How big does Hardy ice plant grow?

About 10 cm × 60 cm after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 8–15 cm × 30–60 cm.

What soil does Hardy ice plant grow in?

It tolerates these soils: sandy, average garden soil.

Is Hardy ice plant hardy?

Hardy down to -18 °C (USDA zone 6, RHS H6). In the colder parts of the country (Carinthia, Salzburg, Tyrol) it may not survive winter without protection.

When does Hardy ice plant flower?

Flowering: June–September, purple, pink.

How much water does Hardy ice plant need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

How much does Hardy ice plant cost?

It sells for roughly €5 to €9.10 in local shops, depending on size.

Hardy ice plant

Delosperma cooperi

Hardy ice plant (Delosperma cooperi) is a ground cover plant that reaches 10 cm × 60 cm after ten years. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -18 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Sold in local shops from about €5.

Illustration of Hardy ice plant — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A succulent mat barely a hand high that is covered from early summer to autumn in dazzling magenta-purple, daisy-like flowers. It belongs in blazing sun and lean, gravelly or sandy soil: rock gardens, wall tops and dry slopes, where it shrugs off heat and drought without watering. Plant it only where drainage is perfect, ideally in spring so it is well established before winter, because it copes badly with winter wet.

Watch out for

Its winter hardiness is borderline in Central Europe. In a dry, sharply drained spot it survives hard frost, but in wet, heavy soil and in rainy winters with repeated thaws it rots off easily, and sources give very different limits (roughly from -9 to -25 °C). Do not plant it in clay or waterlogged soil; in cold winters it can lose its foliage, and even with a sheltered position, gravelly soil and a loose winter cover you should expect to replace plants after a hard, wet winter. Pests and diseases are rare, at most aphids and mealybugs.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Low
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 10 cm × 60 cm
Hardiness: down to -18 °C
Foliage: Semi-evergreen
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D June–September, purple, pink

Group	Ground cover
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	10 cm × 60 cm
Ultimate size	8–15 cm × 30–60 cm
Hardiness	down to -18 °C (USDA 6, RHS H6)
Soil	Sandy, Average garden soil
Foliage	Semi-evergreen
Flowering	June–September, purple, pink
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	30 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	no data
Typical price	from about €5

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €5 – €9.10

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Ground cover plants Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Plants for containers Plants for a Mediterranean garden Rock garden plants

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