How to Grow Aizoaceae: Planting, Growing and Care

If you want a sunny garden spot to burst with color, annual iceplant deserves a place on your planting list. Also known as Livingstone daisy (Cleretum bellidiforme, formerly Dorotheanthus bellidiformis), this low-growing member of the Aizoaceae family, the ice plant family, combines fleshy, succulent foliage with bright, daisy-like flowers. Mixed plantings create a cheerful carpet of pink, purple, yellow, white, orange, and red blooms.

This guide covers annual Livingstone daisy, not the perennial plants also commonly called iceplant. Grow it as a frost-tender annual rather than assuming it will return after winter.

A Member of the Aizoaceae Family

Aizoaceae is a large family of succulent plants centered in southern Africa, home to well over a thousand species across dozens of genera. Succulent leaves are the family's defining trait, and Livingstone daisy fits the pattern with its fleshy, moisture-storing foliage. The common name “ice plant” traces to the glistening, water-storing cells that cover many family members and sparkle like ice crystals in the sun. Like many of its relatives, Livingstone daisy opens its flowers fully only on warm, sunny days, keeping them closed at night and in cold or rainy weather.

Why Grow Iceplant?

Iceplant brings big color to small spaces. Its spreading habit makes it useful along sunny borders, around rocks, and in containers where its flowers can spill over the edges.

Its succulent leaves store moisture, helping established plants tolerate dry spells. That makes it a good choice for gardeners who want a colorful display without keeping the soil constantly wet. Good drainage is essential, though. This plant handles drying soil much better than soggy roots.

The flowers open best in bright sunshine and may close at night or during dull weather. Plant it where you can enjoy its daytime display.

When to Plant Iceplant Seeds

For a head start, sow seeds indoors six to eight weeks before your average last spring frost. Transplant outdoors after frost danger has passed.

You can also sow directly outdoors after the danger of frost has passed. In mild, frost-free climates, late-summer or fall sowing can provide flowers during winter and spring. Use your local weather and seed-packet directions rather than a calendar date alone.

Where to Grow Iceplant

Choose a location in full sun with freely draining soil. Sandy or gritty soil is a good fit, and the plant does not need a rich, heavily fertilized bed.

Avoid low spots where rainwater collects. If your soil is heavy clay, a raised bed or container can give you better control over drainage. Always use containers with drainage holes and a potting mix that drains readily.

How to Plant the Seeds

1. Fill a clean seed tray with fine, well-draining seed-starting mix. Moisten the mix before sowing.
2. Scatter the tiny seeds thinly across the surface. Press them gently into contact with the mix rather than burying them deeply.
3. Keep the tray in bright light at approximately 65–72°F. Light helps germination.
4. Mist gently or water carefully from below so the seeds stay in place. Keep the surface lightly moist, not waterlogged.
5. Allow approximately seven to 21 days for germination, depending on conditions.
6. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, move them carefully into individual cells or small pots.
7. Gradually acclimate indoor-grown seedlings to outdoor conditions before transplanting. Space plants about 10–12 inches apart, or follow your packet’s variety-specific directions.

How to Water Iceplant

Seeds and young seedlings need more consistent moisture than established plants. Do not let the seed-starting surface dry out completely during germination, but avoid keeping the tray saturated.

After transplanting, water gently to settle soil around the roots. Continue checking moisture while plants establish.

Once plants are growing well, let the soil dry somewhat between waterings. Water the root area thoroughly when needed, then allow excess water to drain away. Skip watering when the soil is still moist. Container plants may need attention more often than plants in the ground, especially during hot or windy weather.

Caring for Your Plants

Iceplant is happiest with sunshine, drainage, and a light hand with fertilizer. Avoid heavy feeding, especially in already fertile soil. Excess fertilizer can encourage leafy growth at the expense of flowers.

Remove weeds while plants are young so seedlings do not have to compete for light and moisture. Keep space around plants for airflow, and remove damaged or decaying growth.

If plants struggle, check soil moisture and drainage before adding fertilizer or more water. Persistently wet conditions are a poor match for this succulent annual.

How to Use Iceplant in the Garden

Use annual iceplant as a seasonal ground cover, an edging plant along sunny paths, or a colorful accent in rock gardens. It also works well in patio pots and shallow planters with adequate drainage.

Combine it with other plants that prefer full sun and well-drained soil. Avoid placing it beside plants that require constantly moist conditions.

Enjoy this iceplant as an ornamental flower rather than a food crop. Several different plants share the name “iceplant,” so information about an edible species should not be applied to this annual flower mix.

Bring a Little Sunshine to Your Garden

With tiny seeds, bright flowers, and succulent foliage, annual iceplant offers a rewarding way to brighten a sunny space. Start with good drainage, provide gentle moisture while seedlings establish, and let sunshine bring out the blooms.

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