I have one spot in my garden that endures 5 hours of western sun each summer day.
I have tried a number of ground covers in this location, but all have failed.
This year I am trying a little plant called ice plant.
It seems fortified with extra succulent super powers.
It comes in a variety of lovely colors and foliage types.
It's a Plant Select winner, which means it can grow in our western states, take frosts, endure heat waves, and wait out periods of drought.
I especially like this tag since it contains key words that would stir any gardener's soul.
Words like:
continuous display, robust, extremely drought tolerant, hardy, carpet of flowers, and spreading.
These are music to my ears, especially since I am planting the poor things in
the worst spot in my garden.
(I'm making them some mini-shade houses during August, so don't worry.)
Here are the first ground troops blooming next to our native skullcap.
The carpet grass is being removed to make room for the new ice plants.
(Yes, I could have planted skullcap, skullcap, and more skullcap...but we both know how we feel about that.....BORING!)
With any luck, they'll look like this by next year.
If you are technically inclined, try a little experiment for me and see if you can scan this tag. Tell me if it worked. I'm guessing it will NOT work.
I have no idea why ice plants are called ice plants since they are endemic to South Africa and do NOT bloom in fields of ice and snow. I would think CARPET FLOWER would make sense, but I'm not in charge.
At any rate, I'm willing to have a little ice in my hot tropical garden....especially if it's
as beautiful as these little fellows.
***
That's it for today.
Thanks as always for stopping by.
And for you nomenclature buffs, this last tag will give you the species name:
There's also Delosperma cooperi.
David/:0)
