Orange ice plant - Inland Valley Garden Planner

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Orange ice plant — Lampranthus aurantiacus 'Sunman'

Description

Orange ice plant low clumping succulent that will grow 15-18 in. tall and spread 4-5 ft. across. It has pale green three-sided leaves and produces bright orange flowers with yellow centers in early spring. Several cultivars are available at nurseries and garden centers, including: L. a. Glaucus with clear yellow flowers; and L. a. Sunman' with golden-yellow flowers. Both cultivars bloom in late winter.

Orange ice plant and its cultivars provide a shocking color display in early spring in landscapes and gardens. They are well suited for rock and succulent gardens, on banks and parkways. Like other ice plants, these have modest maintenance and irrigation needs.

Water Needs

Orange ice plant is well adapted to 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 following the flowering cycle.

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, follow this link.

For information how to calculate your irrigation system’s schedule and precipitation rate, please follow this link.

Plant Properties

Plant Type: Ground cover, Succulent, Iceplant
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Spreading, Compact, Clumping
Growth Rate: Moderate
Height: 15 in. - 18 in.
Width: 4 ft. - 5 ft.
Water Needs: Low 1
Foliage Color: Pale green
Flower Color: Orange
Flower Season: Winter, Spring
Soil Adaptations: Well-draining soil
Exposure Adaptations: Wind, Heat, Fog, Drought, Coastal salt air, Aridity, All day sun
Function: Slopes, Rock gardens, Residential spaces, Raised planters, Near pools and water features, Mass planting, Grouped, Flowering accent plant, Container plant, Commercial spaces, Civic spaces, Borders, Banks, Attracts bees

Maintenance

Can be lightly cut back after spring bloom period to get rid of fruit capsules and encourage growth (4). Cut back along edges of borders and to keep of paths where leaves can present a slip hazard if stepped on (D,S).

References