Iceplant

Perennial. A wonderful attraction as delicious as it is beautiful! The bright, shimmering blooms and succulent foliage of this fast-growing perennial form a beautiful flowering ground cover that is also edible and nutritious. Leaves and stems can be enjoyed raw or cooked, offering slightly salty, delicious flavor. An excellent spinach substitute in salads! Prefers slightly dry soil once the plants are started. Enjoy this crispy treat in your garden this summer! Pelleted Seed.

• Perennial
• Full Sun
• Sprouts in 3-21 Days
• Seed Depth: Surface Sow
• Ideal Temperature: 73-83 F
• Plant Spacing: 18-24"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Delosperma floribundum

60 days. Annual or biennial, to 10 inches. Prolific production of small daisy-like white to pink flowers in summer. A bed of Iceplant is oddly reminiscent of an undersea stand of sea anemones! The glistening, succulent leaves are edible--making a delicious, slightly tart spinach substitute. The crushed leaves also make a natural lather and have been used as a soap substitute. At one time the leaves were used to treat scurvy on long voyages, which explains its occurrence worldwide, seeds being present in soil dropped by ships in ballast dumps. Native to southern and western Africa. The plants also take up salt and have been used in bioremediation. Tolerates poor soils. Perennial in frost-free climates, where it may become invasive.

• 6-12 hours of Sun
• Sprouts in 3-21 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 73-83 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: Surface Sow
  
• Plant Spacing: 18-24"
• Frost Hardy: No
  
• Mesembryanthemum crystallinum
  

Growing Tips: Sow in place, or start transplants indoors, setting out after last frost, transplanting carefully. Keep soil moist and warm until sprouts appear. Requires sharp drainage, prefers dry locations.