Profile
Mesembryanthemum crystallinumMesembryanthemum crystallinum
Iceplant, also known as Iceplant, is a fast-growing plant in the Morning Glory family.
Quick profile
Key data
Planting
May, Jun
Harvest
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Light
full sun and warm
Good neighbors
tomato container edgesother drought-tolerant herbs
Avoid
high-water-demand crops
Growing data
Mesembryanthemum crystallinum Growing data
Sowing and germination
Temperature and site
Water, nutrients and care
Container, support and growth
Year plan
Mesembryanthemum crystallinum Calendar
Indoor sowing
Start warm and bright.
Direct sowing
Sow only into warm soil after frost risk.
Planting
Transplant after frost with spacing.
Harvest
Cut leaves and shoot tips continuously.
Growing
Mesembryanthemum crystallinum Site, soil and care
Light
full sun and warm
Storage
Method: cool and dry place, Notes: Ice flowers should be stored in a cool, dry place.
Companion guide
Mesembryanthemum crystallinum Companion guide
Good neighbors
tomato container edgesother drought-tolerant herbs
Avoid
high-water-demand crops
Health
Pests, Diseases
Plant health
Guides
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Internal links
Related plants
Sources
Public sources
- Wikidata entity
Wikidata · 2026-05-13
- GBIF species match
GBIF · 2026-05-13
- Deutschsprachige Wikipedia: Eiskraut
Wikipedia · 2026-05-13
- English Wikipedia: Mesembryanthemum crystallinum
Wikipedia · 2026-05-13
Details
More public plant data
Names
Common
Mesembryanthemum crystallinum
Plural
Mesembryanthemum crystallinum
Synonyms
- Eisblume
- Mesembryanthemum crystallinum
- Sodapflanze
Common synonyms
- Eisblume
- Mesembryanthemum crystallinum
- Sodapflanze
Regional names
Historical names
Market names
Misspellings
Search terms
- Mesembryanthemum crystallinum
Taxonomy
Clades
- Mesembryanthemum
- Mesembryanthemum subg. Cryophytum
Family
Aizoaceae
Classification
Edible parts
Calendar
Sowing indoor
Months
- 3
- 4
Notes
Start warm and bright.
Sowing outdoor
Months
- 5
- 6
Notes
Sow only into warm soil after frost risk.
Planting out
Months
- 5
- 6
Notes
Transplant after frost with spacing.
Harvest
Months
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
Notes
Cut leaves and shoot tips continuously.
Month tasks
Cultivation specs
Seed
Spacing
Spacing notes
Growth dimensions
Final size notes
Temperature
Temperature notes
Water
Critical water phases
Water notes
Nutrition
Nutrition notes
Container
Container notes
Support
Support notes
Cultivation modes
Yield density
Yield notes
Site
Sun
full sun and warm
Shelter
shelter as needed
Notes
Dry, warm sites support compact plants.
Soil
Texture
sandy to well-drained
PH range
Notes
Avoid wet heavy soils.
Watering
Frequency
low to moderate
Method
at the root zone
Notes
After establishment grow rather dry.
Nutrition
Fertilizer type
light
Frequency
as needed
Notes
Too much nitrogen causes soft growth.
Cultivation planning
Succession sowing
Bed planning notes
Problems
Common
- cold damage
- soft growth from excess water
Diagnosis
Check water, site, nutrition, and pest pressure first.
Problem management
Common pest groups
- slugs
- aphids
Common disease groups
- root rot
- Botrytis
Prevention principles
- choose a suitable site
- keep growth airy
- use rotation and hygiene
- inspect plants regularly
Diagnosis notes
Assess symptoms together with site, weather, and growth stage.
Disease graph
Profiles
- Slugroot-rot
Name
root rot
SeveritymediumConditions
- humid canopy
- site or weather stress
Prevention
- space plants for airflow
- remove diseased plant material
- Slugbotrytis
Name
Botrytis
SeveritymediumConditions
- humid canopy
- site or weather stress
Prevention
- space plants for airflow
- remove diseased plant material
Phenology
Stages
- Seedling
- Sprout
- Rosette
- Flower
- Fruit
Notes
Iceplant is a fast-growing plant that flowers in about 6 weeks after germination.
Flowering pollination
- Typeself-pollination
Notes
Iceplant is self-pollinating.
Harvest
Method
hand-picking
Notes
Ice flowers can be harvested by hand.
Harvest details
Harvest frequency
Ice flowers can be harvested in about 6 weeks after germination.
Harvest indicators
- Flower color
- Flower shape
Post harvest handling
Ice flowers should be used immediately after harvesting.
Storage
Method
cool and dry place
Notes
Ice flowers should be stored in a cool, dry place.
Storage details
General storage category
Cool, dry storage
Storage life
Ice flowers can be stored for about 1 week.
Processing options
- Use in salads
- Use in drinks
Processing use
Method
raw
Notes
Ice flowers can be used raw.
Kitchen usage
Cooking methods
- Raw use
- Cooking
Preparation methods
- Washing
- Cutting
Serving suggestions
- Use in salads
- Use in drinks
Safety and edibility
Edible parts
- Flowers
- Leaves
Inedible or caution parts
- Seeds
Toxicity notes
No known toxic effects.
Raw consumption
Ice flowers can be consumed raw.
Seed saving
Method
dry
Notes
Seeds should be stored dry.
Seed saving advanced
Seed storage
Seeds should be stored in a cool, dry place.
Seed viability
Seeds can be viable for about 1 year.
Ecology
Biodiversity notes
Iceplant is a fast-growing plant that flowers in about 6 weeks after germination.