Consulta Plantas

Care of the suculent plant Malephora crocea or Red ice plant

The genus Malephora, family Aizoaceae, comprises 15 species of succulent plants native to southern Africa. Some species are: Malephora crocea, Malephora luteola, Malephora purpureo-crocea, Malephora herrei.

Common names: Crocea iceplant, Ice plant, Coppery iceplant, Iceplant croceum, Finger mesemb, Finger vygie, Coppery mesemb, Red ice plant, Red ice-plant. This species is native to South Africa and Namiba.

They are evergreen succulent plants with a creeping bearing that reach 30 cm (11.8") in height. The fleshy tubular leaves are grayish-green or bluish in color. They produce small, abundant and showy flowers of red, orange, yellow, pink or pink-fuchsia. They can bloom from spring to late summer.

Red ice plant is used in rockeries, in borders and in pots for terraces and balconies. It's ideal for Mediterranean coastal gardens; it resists wind and salinity.

Malephora crocea needs very sunny exposure to achieve abundant flowering. It resists occasional freezes of -5 ºC (23 ºF).

These fast-growing plants grow in any type of well-drained soil, even poor, sandy soils.

Coppery mesemb is very resistant to drought. Water occasionally if the summer is very dry and hot. If the plant suffers from drought, the leaves turn reddish.

Fertilize in late winter with compost.

Prune faded flowers to improve the next flowering.

Malephora crocea is a plant resistant to pests but sensitive to excess moisture.

Crocea iceplant propagates by cuttings from young stems.

Images of the succulent plant Malephora crocea or Red ice plant