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Plant care

Hardy Ice Plant (Cooper's Ice Plant) care

Delosperma cooperi

Also called Cooper's Ice Plant, Pink Carpet Ice Plant, Trailing Ice Plant.

RHS H5USDA 5–9Mildly toxic to petsIndoor 5–10 cm tall

Watering rhythm

7-14days

When the top 3–4 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 7–14 days in summer and very sparingly in winter

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Light

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Soil

Free-draining, lean sandy or gritty soil; pH 6.0–7.5

Humidity

30–60%

Temp

-15–35°C

Pet safety

Mildly toxic to pets

Mature size

5–10 cm tall

Care at a glance

Light

Aim for at least 4-6 hours of direct sun on the leaves. Requires full sun for maximum flowering. At least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily produces the densest carpets of bloom. Shade reduces flowering significantly and encourages leggy, weak growth. If your only bright window faces south, that's perfect for hardy ice plant — same window any aroid would fry on.

Watering

Watering hardy ice plant: when the top 3–4 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 7–14 days in summer and very sparingly in winter. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Drought-tolerant once established but benefits from occasional deep watering in prolonged dry spells during the growing season. Excellent drainage is more important than watering frequency. Avoid waterlogging especially in winter.

Soil and pot

Hardy Ice Plant grows best in free-draining, lean sandy or gritty soil; ph 6.0–7.5. Thrives in poor, well-drained soils similar to its South African grassland habitat. Rich soils promote foliage at the expense of flowers. In heavy clay soils, improve drainage with sharp sand or grit. Avoid waterlogged conditions. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Hardy Ice Plant sits happiest at around 30–60% humidity and -15–35°C (5–95°F). Tolerates a wide humidity range when drainage is adequate. Good air circulation reduces risk of fungal diseases in humid climates. More adaptable than most mesembs. If you keep the room above year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed hardy ice plant sparingly. In poor soils, apply a balanced, low-nitrogen granular fertiliser (e.g. 5-10-10) once in spring. Over-fertilising in rich soil is counterproductive and reduces flowering. Most garden soils require no supplemental feeding. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on hardy ice plant in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Root rot in winter — The most common failure; caused by waterlogged soil in cold, wet winters. Ensure excellent drainage or grow in raised beds.
  • Reduced flowering — Caused by insufficient light, over-fertilising, or over-rich soil. Ensure full sun and lean soil conditions.
  • Winter dieback — In borderline zones (USDA 5–6), some stem dieback is normal. Cut back dead material in spring — new growth emerges from the base.
  • Aphids — Can infest new shoot tips in spring. Knock off with a strong water spray or treat with insecticidal soap.
  • Legginess — Lightly shear after the main flowering flush to encourage compact regrowth and extended bloom.

Companion plants

Hardy Ice Plant pairs well with Delosperma nubigenum, Sedum spurium, and Sempervivum tectorum. These are species with similar light and water needs, so you can group them in the same room or on the same shelf and water as a batch.

Propagation

Take 5–8 cm stem tip cuttings in spring or early summer, allow to callous for 1–2 days, then root in sandy cuttings compost. Roots form in 2–4 weeks. Division of established mats in spring is also simple and effective. Seeds germinate readily at 18–22°C. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Hardy Ice Plant is mildly toxic to pets. Delosperma cooperi is not individually listed by the ASPCA. As an Aizoaceae member, specific toxicity data for pets is limited. Treat as mildly toxic and keep away from pets and children as a precaution. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Hardy Ice Plant care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Delosperma cooperi?

Delosperma cooperi is most commonly called Hardy Ice Plant, but it is also known as Cooper's Ice Plant, Pink Carpet Ice Plant, Trailing Ice Plant. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Hardy Ice Plant apply identically to anything sold as Cooper's Ice Plant.

How much light does hardy ice plant need?

Hardy Ice Plant grows best in direct sun (at least 4-6 hours). Requires full sun for maximum flowering. At least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily produces the densest carpets of bloom. Shade reduces flowering significantly and encourages leggy, weak growth.

How often should I water hardy ice plant?

Water hardy ice plant when the top 3–4 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 7–14 days in summer and very sparingly in winter. Drought-tolerant once established but benefits from occasional deep watering in prolonged dry spells during the growing season. Excellent drainage is more important than watering frequency. Avoid waterlogging especially in winter. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is hardy ice plant toxic to cats and dogs?

Hardy Ice Plant is mildly toxic to pets. Delosperma cooperi is not individually listed by the ASPCA. As an Aizoaceae member, specific toxicity data for pets is limited. Treat as mildly toxic and keep away from pets and children as a precaution.

What USDA hardiness zone does hardy ice plant grow in?

Hardy Ice Plant is rated for USDA zone 5–9 and RHS hardiness H5. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Hardy Ice Plant deep-dive guides

Every aspect of hardy ice plant care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Hardy Ice Plant qualifies for 4 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Hardy Ice Plant is also known as Cooper's Ice Plant, Pink Carpet Ice Plant, and Trailing Ice Plant.