How to Grow Ruby Ice Plant
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Ruby Ice Plant
Delosperma cooperi 'Ruby'
flowerDelosperma Ruby is a vibrant succulent groundcover featuring brilliant magenta-red flowers that bloom profusely from late spring through summer. This hardy ice plant forms dense, low-growing mats of fleshy foliage and thrives in hot, dry conditions with minimal care. It's an excellent choice for rock gardens, xeriscaping, and containers.
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Example Ruby Ice Plant timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Ruby Ice Plant
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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First Ruby Ice Plant blooms
Around May 17≈ 30 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Ruby Ice Plant dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-9, with best performance in zones 6-8
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Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny succulent leaves emerge, forming miniature rosettes with sparse fine roots.
Keep soil barely moist, provide bright light, avoid overwatering which causes damping-off. Ensure excellent air circulation.
Juvenile Vegetative
4-8 weeksPlants develop multiple rosettes and begin spreading horizontally, creating dense mat-like growth with increasingly thick leaves.
Water sparingly, allow to dry between waterings. Reduce watering frequency as plant matures. Provide full sun for compact growth.
Mature Growth
Ongoing until floweringFully established groundcover mat with thick, fleshy foliage in blue-green to olive tones, ready for flowering.
Minimal watering except during extended drought. Pinch back any leggy growth to encourage bushier form. Fertilize lightly in spring only.
Flowering
6-10 weeks (late spring to mid-summer)Abundant brilliant magenta-red daisy-like flowers appear at branch tips, covering the mat in vibrant color.
Maintain dry conditions; avoid wetting foliage. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming. Do not fertilize during bloom.
Post-Bloom & Winter
Fall through early springFlowers fade, foliage may take on reddish or bronze tones in response to cool temperatures and stress.
Cease all watering in cold climates. In mild climates, water only if drought is severe. Foliage color is normal and attractive.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Improve drainage, ensure well-draining soil, avoid overwatering, remove affected plants, treat with fungicide if necessary
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Increase air circulation, spray with water to dislodge, apply neem oil or miticide if severe
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Inspect regularly, remove with cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol, spray with insecticidal soap
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Spray with strong water stream, apply insecticidal soap or neem oil, encourage beneficial insects
Uses
Not for consumption
CulinaryDelosperma is not edible and should not be ingested. It is grown purely as an ornamental plant. [source]
Xeriscaping & drought-tolerant landscaping
HouseholdIdeal for water-wise gardens, rock gardens, alpine troughs, and container plantings in arid and semi-arid climates. Reduces landscape water demands significantly. [source]
Groundcover for poor soils
HouseholdThrives in rocky, sandy, and infertile soils where other plants struggle, making it excellent for erosion control on slopes and stabilizing difficult garden areas. [source]
Container & alpine garden gardening
CraftStunning in hypertufa containers, alpine troughs, and succulent arrangements. The vibrant magenta flowers provide striking color contrast in mixed succulent displays. [source]
Pollinator attraction
WildlifeBright magenta flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators during its long blooming season, supporting beneficial insect populations. [source]
Harvest Tips
Not applicable for ornamental use. For propagation, collect healthy leaf cuttings in spring or summer, allow to callus for 2-3 days, then place on well-draining soil and water sparingly until roots develop (2-3 weeks).
Fun Facts
- 🌱 The common name 'Ice Plant' derives from the plant's fleshy leaves, which have a glistening appearance caused by specialized water-storage cells that look like tiny ice crystals in morning dew.
- 🌱 Delosperma Ruby is one of the hardiest ice plant species, surviving temperatures down to -15°F (-9°C) in well-draining soil, making it suitable for cold-climate gardeners seeking colorful succulents.
- 🌱 The magenta flowers close at night and on cloudy days, protecting the delicate petals from dew and temperature fluctuations—a survival adaptation from their native South African habitat.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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