Cleretum bellidiforme (Burm.f.) G.D.Rowley
Vernacular name: Ice Plant, Livingstone Daisy, Ice Plant Daisy
Species Name: Cleretum bellidiforme (Burm.f.) G.D.Rowley (Syn. Dorotheanthus bellidiformis, Mesembryanthemum criniflorum)
Family: Aizoaceae
Habit: Low-growing, spreading annual succulent herb, cultivated mainly as an ornamental bedding and rock-garden plant.
Stem: Short, soft and succulent, much-branched near the base; branches spread along the ground.
Leaf: Opposite, simple, fleshy and succulent, generally linear to lanceolate; the surface contains numerous small bladder-like cells, giving the foliage a glistening or “icy” appearance.
Flowering: Mainly during the cooler growing season; flowers open best in bright sunlight.
Flowers: Large, showy, daisy-like, occurring in brilliant shades of pink, magenta, red, orange, yellow or white; numerous narrow petal-like staminodes surround the central stamens. Inflorescence solitary terminal or axillary flowers, rather than a conventional clustered inflorescence.
Fruit: Dry capsule, opening when moistened, containing numerous small seeds.
Uses:
- It is an ornamental plant, planted along spring garden boarders, walkways, paths, pots, window boxes and trailing. Plant can cover bare sunny patches of soil with dense colourful carpet. It thrives in dry rock garden pockets and gaps between small shrubs.
- Plant is drought tolerant, so is ideal for xeriscaping.
