The ice plant is a resilient, succulent groundcover highly valued for its exceptional drought tolerance and its dense mat of vibrant, daisy-like flowers. Its common name comes from tiny, reflective hairs on the foliage that shimmer like ice crystals, especially in full sun. While these plants are notably low-maintenance once established, the success of a new planting relies heavily on choosing the correct time to introduce it to the garden. Planting at the optimal moment allows the root system to establish quickly before facing environmental stressors like intense summer heat or winter cold.
Optimal Timing Based on Planting Method
Planting nursery starts or cuttings is the most common and recommended method, generally occurring in late spring or early summer. Wait until all risk of the last hard frost has passed and the soil temperature has begun to warm consistently. For many regions, this places the ideal window between late April and early June, allowing the plant the full growing season to develop its root structure.
In cooler climates, particularly those in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 7, planting by mid-summer ensures the ice plant has sufficient time to harden off before winter freezes arrive. Conversely, in hot, arid regions, such as the American Southwest, fall planting is often more advantageous. Introducing the plants in early autumn allows them to establish roots during cooler, milder weather, minimizing the stress of immediate exposure to high summer temperatures.
Starting ice plant from seeds is less common and requires an earlier start. Seeds need light for germination and are best started indoors four to six weeks before the last expected frost date. Once the seedlings have developed true leaves and outdoor temperatures are reliably warm, they can be hardened off and transplanted. Direct sowing is possible in early summer, but the resulting plants will lag significantly behind those started from cuttings.
Preparing the Planting Location
Preparing the site is necessary for successful planting, as the ice plant is extremely sensitive to overly moist conditions. The most important environmental factor is sunlight, requiring a location that receives a minimum of six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight daily. Insufficient light exposure results in sparse flowering and weak, leggy growth, compromising the plant’s dense, mat-forming habit.
Excellent drainage is equally important, as saturated soil quickly leads to fatal root rot. Ice plants thrive in lean, sandy, or gravelly soils that mimic their native arid environments. If your native soil is heavy clay, it is necessary to amend the area deeply before planting. Incorporating materials like coarse sand, fine gravel, or horticultural grit improves the soil structure and aeration.
Amending a large area is more effective than simply filling the planting hole with rich soil, which can create a “bathtub effect” where water collects. The goal is to ensure water moves rapidly away from the plant’s crown and roots. Ice plants do not require rich soil, so heavy reliance on compost or organic matter is unnecessary and can hold too much moisture.
Step-by-Step Planting Guide
Once the soil is prepared, the planting process should minimize root disturbance. Dig a hole only as deep as the plant’s root ball and roughly twice as wide. This shallow depth ensures the crown sits level with the surrounding soil surface after backfilling, preventing moisture from accumulating around the stem base.
Gently remove the ice plant from its container; if the roots are tightly coiled, carefully tease them apart to encourage outward growth. Place the plant in the hole, ensuring the container soil line aligns precisely with the garden soil line. Space individual plants 15 to 18 inches apart, allowing room for their vigorous, trailing habit to spread and form a continuous groundcover mat.
Fill the area around the root ball with the amended soil and lightly tamp it down to remove air pockets. Avoid heavy compaction, as this defeats the purpose of enhancing drainage. A light tamping is sufficient to secure the plant in place without restricting the flow of air and water.
Initial Establishment Care
The first four to six weeks after planting are the most crucial period, focusing on establishing a deep root system. Immediately after planting, water the area thoroughly and deeply to settle the soil around the roots and eliminate air pockets. This initial soak is often the heaviest watering the plant will receive.
Following the first watering, drastically reduce the frequency, allowing the top several inches of soil to dry out completely before watering again. This forces the roots to grow deeper in search of moisture, which is necessary for the plant’s long-term drought tolerance. Overwatering during this establishment phase is the most common cause of failure.
Monitor the ice plant closely for signs of stress, particularly wilting or yellowing foliage. If the leaves look mushy or dark, it is a sign of overwatering, and all irrigation should cease immediately. Once the plant shows new, firm growth and is actively spreading, it is considered established and can transition to its minimal care routine.