2023 Do Ice Plant Jade Spread Easily: Expert Tell You

The Resilience of Ice Plant Jade

Ice plant jade is a drought-tolerant succulent plant well-suited to rocky locations and sandy soils with low fertility. It grows rapidly by stems that readily root when in contact with the soil, allowing it to spread aggressively through gardens and landscapes.Ice plant jade adapts well to poor soil fertility due to its ability to extract moisture and nutrients from limited resources. This adaptability, combined with its spreading growth habit, allows ice plant jade to reproduce and persist with ease.
More comprehensive information and care guidelines can be read here.

ice plant jade, jade plant leaves, green and brown leaf plant — *Photo by* *Caleb George* / *Unsplash*

Factors Facilitating Ice Plant Jade Propagation

Several plant characteristics enable ice plant jade to spread so easily:

The stems of ice plant jade grow along the soil surface and regularly develop roots at the nodes, allowing them to propagate vegetatively. This stoloniferaous growth habit results in rapid clonal spread.
Ice plant jade is highly drought resistant and can survive in a wide range of soil conditions, from sandy to saline. This adaptability facilitates its widespread distribution and propagation.
The plant produces abundant flowers and seed pods. The small black seeds are easily dispersed by animals, water, and human activity, resulting in new colonies becoming established.
Even stem and leaf fragments of ice plant jade can take root and regenerate into new plants if they come into contact with moist soil. This vegetative reproduction through plant fragments contributes to its tendency to quickly overtake areas.

In summary, the combination of clonal spread through stoloniferous stems, drought tolerance enabling persistence in unfavorable conditions, prolific seed production, and regeneration from plant fragments give ice plant jade numerous pathways for propagation and rapid colonization of suitable habitat. These characteristics make controlling its spread challenging once it has become established.

ice plant jade, creeping jade, a close up of a plant with green leaves — *Photo by* *Tanbir Mahmud* / *Unsplash*

Tips for Controlling Ice Plant Jade Spread

There are several options for trying to control the spread of ice plant jade and limit its dominance in the landscape:

Manual removal– Pulling up established stems and rhizomes can be effective, though labor intensive. All plant fragments must be removed or they may resprout.
Herbicides – Glyphosate and triclopyr based herbicides can be applied to the foliage. However, repeat applications are often needed due to regeneration from plant fragments.
Mulching – Covering areas densely with organic mulch like shredded bark can limit light availability and suppress ice plant jade. However, mulch must be replenished regularly.
Solarization – Covering infested areas with clear plastic for 4-6 weeks during hot summer months can kill ice plant jade by depriving it of light and increasing soil temperatures. However, not all plant fragments may be eliminated.
Physical barriers – Establishing physical barriers like metal edging, rubber mulch, or landscape fabric may keep ice plant jade contained within a certain area through inhibition of stem growth. Existing plants must still be removed.
Replanting with competition – Introducing desirable plants that compete aggressively for light, water, and nutrients may help reduce the spread and growth of ice plant jade. Native species tend to work best.

In sum, integrated approaches that combine two or more methods are often most effective for controlling the spread of ice plant jade. Manual removal followed by replanting of competition and use of physical barriers can help contain any regenerating plant fragments. Herbicides may be needed for spot treatments of resistant growth. Ongoing monitoring and maintenance will likely be required.

ice plant jade, jade plant leaves, close up photo of green leafed plant — *Photo by* *Ren Ran* / *Unsplash*

Benefits of Cultivating Ice Plant Jade

Despite its invasive tendencies, ice plant jade does offer some benefits when cultivated properly:

Drought resistance– As a succulent, ice plant jade is extremely drought tolerant and can survive long periods with little water. This makes it a good choice for xeric gardens and landscapes in arid regions.
Groundcover potential– The low-growing mat-forming habit of ice plant jade allows it to function as an effective groundcover that chokes out weeds. It is especially suited to covering slopes, banks, and other hard-to-manage areas.
Erosion control– The dense foliage and extensive root system of ice plant jade can help stabilize sloping land and prevent soil erosion. It is sometimes used for this purpose in restoration projects.
Colorful flowers– Depending on the variety, ice plant jade can produce showy pink, purple, or white flowers that bloom profusely in spring and summer, providing nectar for pollinators.
Low maintenance – Once established, ice plant jade requires little care other than occasional watering during the first growing season. It is resistant to most pests and diseases.

However, to fully realize these benefits while minimizing the plant’s invasive potential, ice plant jade must be carefully contained. Physically barriers, strategic planting locations, and periodic removal of excess growth can help ensure ice plant jade functions primarily as an ornamental groundcover rather than a weed. With proper management techniques, the drought tolerance, erosion control, and flowering display of ice plant jade can greatly enhance sustainable gardens and landscapes.

ice plant jade, creeping jade, blue and gold beaded bracelet — *Photo by* *wu yi* / *Unsplash*

Exploring Different Varieties of Ice Plant Jade

While the species Delosperma cooperi is the most common ice plant jade, there are a variety of cultivars within the genus with different characteristics:

• ‘John Creech’ – Produces large, white flowers that turn pink at the base, and pinkish-gray foliage. Slow growing and less invasive.

• ‘Lime Ice’ – Foliage is pale green with pink edges and flowers are white or pinkish. More compact.

• ‘Fire Spinner’ – Leaves are dark red or burgundy in color with a reddish flower. More cold tolerant and less spreading.

• ‘Variegata’ – Foliage is edged with creamy white variegation and pink flowers. More upright habit.

• ‘Baccarat’ – Produces reddish-purple flowers and gray-green leaves. Less invasive with a faster growth rate.

• ‘Marginatum’ – Leaves have dark green centers bordered by a narrow white margin. Pink or white flowers. More compact.

• ‘White Gem’ – Features nearly white leaves and bright pink or white star-shaped flowers. Slower growing.

In general, ice plant jade cultivars with narrower leaves, reddish or variegated foliage, and slower growth habits tend to be less invasive than the species. The wide range of flower colors and foliage patterns provide design options to match any xeric landscape scheme. While propagation of all cultivars should still be closely monitored, some varieties may integrate better into the garden with appropriate containment strategies in place.