Mesembryanthemum crystallinum Seeds | Ice Plant
LATIN NAME: Mesembryanthemum crystallinum
COMMON NAME: Ice Plant
Plant Profile
Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, better known as Ice Plant, is a low, spreading, annual in the fig-marigold family. Ice plant spreads its low, fleshy, glistening leaves and many small, white or pink, daisy-like flowers, and the whole plant carries the fine, sparkling look of the dry garden. It is a plant of open, sunny, sharp-draining ground. Each of these traits is modest on its own; together they make a garden-worthy plant.
Science & Biotechnology
Seed science, comparative botany and horticultural selection all touch on Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, a representative of the fig-marigold family with clear practical value. It retains a following among breeders and collectors, which keeps seed stocks in circulation.
Uses & Benefits
In the garden, Ice Plant earns its place in borders, containers and mixed plantings, and it also rewards growers who raise plants for cutting, drying or kitchen use. Ice plant is a fine, bright plant of dry border and study collection. It is a fine, bright plant of open, sunny, sharp-draining garden. Give young plants sharp-draining soil, and glistening leaves will spread over warm months. It establishes readily and then requires nothing out of the ordinary.
Beyond its looks, it serves the wider garden: the flowers feed bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects, and stems cut for the vase bring the season indoors.
Growing from Seed
Seed is the natural starting point for Ice Plant, and the process is uncomplicated. Sow on the surface of a gritty, well-drained mix, cover lightly with fine compost, and maintain gentle, even moisture in a sunny position. Transplant the sturdiest seedlings to their permanent spots and let them develop without disturbance.
Our Take
Ice Plant repays a little patience at sowing time with plenty of garden presence later.
Related Reading
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