Suntropics Yellow Ice Plant

Suntropics Yellow Ice Plant (Delosperma cooperi 'Suntropics Yellow') is a low, trailing succulent that grows about 10cm tall and 40cm wide and blankets itself in clear, bright yellow daisy flowers through summer. The slender, fleshy leaves hold water, so it carries on through heat and dry spells that flatten thirstier plants. It is cold hardy too, which makes it one of the more adaptable succulent groundcovers.

Why you'll love it

• Clean, bright yellow flowers. Small, glossy daisies in a clear yellow with no darker eye cover the plant at its summer peak and keep returning through the warmer months.
• Water stored in the stems. The fleshy leaves and stems hold moisture, which is why it handles drought and heat once established.
• Hardy in the cold. Few succulents shrug off cold the way this one does, so it is not limited to frost free gardens.
• A tidy carpet. The trailing stems spread outwards into a low mat, and the leaves colour reddish in winter.
• Suits many spots. Rockeries, pots, rooftops, xeriscaped beds and green walls are all fair game.

Where it works best

Rockeries and gravel gardens. Set plants 30cm apart in full sun and let the stems trail over stone. A yellow carpet looks especially sharp against grey rock and dark mulch.

Groundcover on dry banks. On sunny slopes with light soil, 30cm spacing builds a continuous low mat that fills in as each plant spreads to about 40cm.

Pots and rooftops. It spills neatly over the rim of a container and tolerates the hot, exposed conditions of rooftop and courtyard gardens.

Growing Suntropics Yellow Ice Plant in Australia

Position and climate. Plant in full sun, or at least a position with sun for part of the day, for the best flowering and the most compact growth. It is drought tolerant and cold hardy once established and suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens. In regions with humid, rainy summers, drainage is what decides whether it thrives.

Soil. It wants light, free draining soil and dislikes wet feet and rich, moist ground. In clay, build up a mound or raised bed and work in coarse sand or fine gravel.

Water and feed. Keep the soil lightly moist until the plant is established, usually around 12 weeks. After that, water only when the soil has dried out. Fertiliser is not necessary.

Pruning. No regular pruning is required. After winter, snip back untidy stems to keep the mat dense.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Suntropics Yellow Ice Plant as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Tubes are the value choice for covering a rockery or sunny bank. The stems are fleshy and travel well, so plant out within a day or two of arrival in a sunny, free draining position.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Groundcover plants for sunny gardens
• Succulents for hot climates
• Rockery plants
• Succulents in Australia, a care guide

Common questions

How much space does it need?

Each plant spreads to about 40cm wide and only 10cm tall. Plant 30cm apart and the stems will meet to form a low, even carpet.

Can it handle cold winters?

Yes. Suntropics Yellow is cold hardy once established. Wet, cold soil is a bigger threat than frost, so keep drainage sharp.

What is the difference between the Yellow and the Red?

Only the flower colour. Yellow is a clear, bright yellow throughout, while Suntropics Red is warm red with a golden centre. Size, habit and care are the same, so they combine well in one planting.