How to Prune an Ice Plant

Ice plants' leaves have fine hairs that reflect light and create the look of ice.

Ice plant is a succulent ground cover that is native to South Africa. It is characterized by lance-shaped leaves and tiny flowers that may grow either singly or in threes. Ice plants are perennial in their native regions. In many parts of North America, they are treated as annuals that are killed by frost. In regions where ice plants will grow perennially, they must be pruned yearly to rejuvenate the plant.

Things You'll Need

• Garden shears

Instructions

1. Cut back the plant when three quarters of the blossoms have faded. If you wait to prune the plant at a point when all the blossoms have died, it will be too late for the pruning to be effective.

2. Position your shears at a point just behind the healthy, visible growing point. Ice plants should never be pruned back to the woody stems. They will not rejuvenate from this point.

3. Cut away the spent flowers and vegetative growth at this point. Ice plants will develop lateral stems with new leaves from the points where you made your cuts.

Tips & Warnings

• Ice plants thrive best when planted in early spring.

References

• University of Florida IFAS Extension: Carpobrotus edulis: Ice Plant
• SFGate: Ice plant that comes in rainbow of colors
• Colorado State University Extension: Ground Cover

Resources

• Colorado State University Extension: Rock Garden Plants