What soil does Hardy ice plant hybrids grow in?

It tolerates these soils: sandy, average garden soil.

Is Hardy ice plant hybrids hardy?

Hardy down to -23 °C (USDA zone 6, RHS H7). It gets through winter everywhere at lower altitudes, but may not survive unprotected in a mountain garden.

How much water does Hardy ice plant hybrids need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

Hardy ice plant hybrids

Delosperma × hybridum

Hardy ice plant hybrids (Delosperma × hybridum) is a ground cover plant. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -23 °C. Drought tolerance: high.

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

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

A group record for the hardier ice plant hybrids sold under series names (Wheels of Wonder, Jewel of Desert, Sundella, Suntropics) or as single cultivars: succulent mats only a few centimetres tall that are covered in glossy daisy-like flowers from May into autumn in full sun, in pink, purple, red, orange, yellow or white, often with a contrasting eye. Flower colour, length of bloom, mat size and winter hardiness differ between cultivars, so check the details of the one you buy. They take cold only in dry, sharply drained (gravelly or sandy) soil, and a wet winter or long-lying snow kills them sooner than frost does: plant in spring, mulch with gravel rather than bark, and expect to replace plants every few years.

Watch out for

The usual failure is winter loss: in heavy, wet soil the crown rots, under lasting snow cover it smothers, and the hardiness promised on the label is only reached in a dry, gravelly spot. In Central Europe it also suffers in hard frost without snow; a loose covering of leaves can help, but any cover that keeps it wet does harm. Overwatered or in rich soil it grows lax, flowers less and rots more easily. Aphids and mealybugs can turn up but rarely do serious damage.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Low
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 10 cm × 45 cm
Hardiness: down to -23 °C
Foliage: Evergreen

Group	Ground cover
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	10 cm × 45 cm
Ultimate size	3–15 cm × 30–60 cm
Hardiness	down to -23 °C (USDA 6, RHS H7)
Soil	Sandy, Average garden soil
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	May–October, pink, purple, red, orange, yellow, white
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	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	no data

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

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

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