60413Bright pink bloom that can be profuse enough to obscure the succulent foliage below is nothing new for iceplant. Some bloom bright purplish pink. Others are reddish pink. A few are softer pink or white. What is unexpected is iceplant that blooms bright yellow, orange or gold, like Lampranthus aureus does. (Freeway or beach iceplant that blooms soft yellow or pink is not a true iceplant.)

Lampranthus arueus neither spreads as far nor cascades quite as well as other types of iceplant, but if planted a bit closer together, it can cover quite a bit of ground. It gets about a foot deep, or a bit deeper if crowded by other plants. It is very easy to grow from cuttings stuck wherever new plants are wanted. The inch and a half wide flowers are slightly wider than those of other iceplant.

All iceplant are quite undemanding. Although they bloom better and stay greener with occasional watering, they do not need much water. They should only be fertilized if they get wimpy. After the spectacular primary bloom phase early in spring, too much fertilizer might inhibit sporadic bloom later in summer. Unfortunately, the healthiest iceplant may not bloom again after spring bloom.

6 thoughts on “Iceplant”

    1. This is not the Carpobrotus edulis or chilensis that we know as freeway iceplant. It is the iceplant that we use as small scale ground cover or bank cover. Some are a bit shrubbier. It does not get heavy enough to weigh down a hillside.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      2. I sort of like them all. The freeway iceplant is very unpopular, since we all think of it as something that grows on freeways. I planted quite a bit of it in sandy spots in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It helps with erosion, and inhibits the growth of more combustible vegetation.

        Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment