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Cloud-loving Hardy Ice Plant

Delosperma nubigenum (del-oh-SPUR-muh noo-bee-GEE-num)

Family: Aizoaceae Non-native Groundcover (<1 ft)

Cloud-loving hardy ice plant with thick, fleshy, shiny, bright, light green leaves 1.2 in. long that has a reddish tinge in fall through the winter months. Grows well in zone 5. Solitary chartreuse-yellow, daisy-like flowers in spring. Space plants 10-14 inches apart. Good drought tolerance and moderately salt tolerant with the ability of being grown in colder climates. It is a member of the ice plant family (Aizoaceae). More information on Delosperma .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 42 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 5 - Groundcover (<1 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Fills a similar niche Petrosedum rupestre 'Angelina' Sedum 'Touchdown Teak' Sempervivum tectorum

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Ground Cover
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 2 in. - 0 ft. 3 in. | Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Horizontal; Spreading
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf feel
Fleshy; Glossy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Thick, fleshy, shiny, bright, light green leaves 1.2 in. long that get a reddish tinge in fall.
Fall color
Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Saucer
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Solitary chartreuse-yellow, daisy-like flowers in spring.
Bloom time
Spring
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
South Africa
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Pollinators
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Slope/Bank
Landscape theme
Rock Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Border; Mass Planting
Garden tags
#salt tolerant #evergreen #drought tolerant #succulent #green roof
Problems & Resistance
Resistant to
Deer; Drought; Erosion; Salt
Particularly resistant to
Drought tolerant; salt tolerant
Propagation
Stem Cutting

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.