Drosanthemum floribundum - Inland Valley Garden Planner

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Description

Rosea ice plant is dense and low growing succulent that becomes 4-6 in. high; it's ground hugging stems will root in moist soil and enable this plant to grow many feet across. Tiny pale green leaves glisten with translucent dots; a carpet of shocking fluorescent-pink flowers occur in spring and can last for 2-3 weeks.

Rosea ice plant is a very versatile choice for ground cover plantings for large or small slopes where it is valued for erosion control, fine texture and seasonal color. It tolerates many soil types, needs good drainage and requires low amounts of supplemental water. Like all succulent ground covers, this species will develop a layer of old stems underlying each season of new growth. Sometimes it is necessary to remove older plantings with new cuttings in the spring.

Water Needs

Rosea ice plant is well adapted all parts of the Inland Empire in sunny exposures with normal winter rains and low amounts of summer irrigation. The chart shown below provides a recommended baseline guide to the monthly irrigation schedule and volume of supplemental water needed to maintain healthy growth throughout the average year. It should be noted there are several months indicated by an asterisk (*) when winter rains often provides sufficient moisture and irrigation is not needed. The high and low range of moisture indicates it can grow with varying amounts of water; little supplemental water is needed during summer.

Irrigation Schedule and Graph

Low Water Use Plants

Irrigation Schedule 1

	Jan*	Feb*	Mar*	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov*	Dec*
Runs per Month	0x to 2x	0x to 2x	0x to 2x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	0x to 2x	0x to 2x
Inches per Run	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"

Inches per Month	0" to 2"	0" to 2"	0" to 2"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	0" to 2"	0" to 2"

Range of supplemental summer water: 7"
Range of supplemental winter water: 0"-10"

0"-2"

Jan*

Feb*

Mar*

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov*

Dec*

For more information on how to use this Irrigation Schedule and Graph, click here.

Plant Properties

Plant Type: Ground cover, Succulent, Iceplant
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Spreading, Dense
Growth Rate: Fast
Height: 4 in. - 6 in.
Width: 5 ft. - 6 ft.
Water Needs: Low 1
Foliage Color: Pale green
Flower Color: Pink
Flower Season: Spring
Soil Adaptations: Well-draining soil, Moist soil
Exposure Adaptations: Heat, Fog, Coastal salt air, All day sun
Function: Slopes, Rock gardens, Mass planting, Foundations, Container plant, Borders, Banks

Maintenance

Trim edges and borders of plantings as necessary. Avoid allowing it to grow onto paved walkways because shoes stepping on the succulent leaves over concrete can create an instant slip hazard when stepped on.

After multiple years of growth, can develop a layer of dried thatch below the active growth that can actually present a fire hazard in fire prone areas. Areas can be replanted by trimming plants, saving the younger actively growing sections, pulling and disposing of the older growth portion, and planting the cuttings to re-root and grow out (D).

References