Delosperma nubigenum - Hardy Yellow Ice Plant - €7 per plant

Delosperma nubigenum also known as Hardy Iceplant is native to certain mountainous areas of South Africa. The plant is mat-forming providing an excellent ground cover for sunny and part shady areas. The beautiful yellow flowers open in late spring - early autumn offering exceptional nectar sources to honeybees and other pollinators. This species is reportedly the most winter hardy of the ice plants currently in cultivation growing well in USDA 5 . It typically grows to a max height of 8cm but can spread 50cm wide. To order this plant please contact us [email protected]. 

Context

  • native region: South Africa
  • native habitat:  shallow, poor soils or rock crevices where temperatures are often high.
  • family: Aizoaceae
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Predators

  • No serious insect or disease problems. Aphids and mealybugs may visit.
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Needs, tolerances 

Light: Full sun or semi shade
  • soil pH:  Acid, neutral -basic alkaline 
  • Hardiness Zone: 5a - 10b
  • Drought tolerant
  • Will suffer under water stagnation, 
  • Prefers well drained soils, shallow soils or even rocky terrain.
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Known Hazards

  • It is known that the interaction of the plant during the fermentation process results in chemical components to change, which converts sugar to oxalic acid and is extremely toxic when ingested.

Overview

  • Evergreen Perennial growing to 0.08 m by 0.5 m.
  • It is hardy to zone 5
  • It is in flower from June - October
  • The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.
  • The plant is self-fertile.
  • Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy), requires well-drained soil, can grow in ppor soild 
  • Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils.
  • Grows well in full sun and semi shade
  •  It prefers dry soil and can tolerate drought but cannot tolerate waterlogged soils .

Characteristics

  • form:evergreen perennial
  • layer : Ground Layer
  • habit: prostrate
  • height x width (m):0.3 x 0.6

Products 

  • In South Africa used for preparation of khadi, an alcoholic wine. 
  • The plant is also used among the Bantu and the Europeans as yeast source for making beer.
  • Year round ground cover 

Functions, behaviors

  • quickly spreading to form mats of dense stems and miniature foliage
  • The plant contains the hallucinogen chemicals DMT and 5-MeO-DMT, which can be extracted from the leaves.
  • easy to propagate from cuttings by taking a flowerless cutting, stripping a couple of bottom leaves off, and then replanting in the same soil.
  • The leaves turn red in cold winter temperatures.
  • low need for maintenance
  • Can grow in dry, salt-tolerant, rocky sites.
If you would like this plant send an email to [email protected] with your order. 
Balkan Ecology Project