Trailing ice plant (vygie) Lampranthus spectabilis
Trailing ice plant (vygie) (Lampranthus spectabilis) is an evergreen perennial groundcover in the Aizoaceae family, native to Namaqualand and the West Coast (succulent Karoo). It grows 15–30 cm (6–12 in) tall and 50–90 cm (20–35 in) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -4 °C (25 °F). Space plants about 50 cm (20 in) apart.
Plan Trailing ice plant (vygie) in your garden →
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Trailing ice plant (vygie) at a glance
| Type | Perennial groundcover, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Aizoaceae |
| Mature height | 15–30 cm (6–12 in) |
| Mature spread | 50–90 cm (20–35 in) |
| Spacing | 50 cm (20 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 7 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 6–8 |
| Cold hardiness | About -4 °C (25 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 40 °C (104 °F) |
| Flowering | from about September for 6–10 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Namaqualand and the West Coast (succulent Karoo) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇺🇸 United States |
Is Trailing ice plant (vygie) toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Trailing ice plant (vygie)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
See Trailing ice plant (vygie) in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- The Huntington (8 plants)
- UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley (8 plants)
- Kirstenbosch (24 plants)
Questions about Trailing ice plant (vygie)
- How far apart should I plant Trailing ice plant (vygie)?
- About 50 cm (20 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 50–90 cm (20–35 in).
- Does Trailing ice plant (vygie) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 7 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Trailing ice plant (vygie) need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Trailing ice plant (vygie)?
- It tolerates about -4 °C (25 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- When does Trailing ice plant (vygie) flower?
- From about September for 6–10 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Trailing ice plant (vygie) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
- What grows well with Trailing ice plant (vygie)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Trailing ice plant (vygie). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- PlantZAfrica, South African National Biodiversity Institute
Notes and assumptions
- Sheets of glistening magenta daisies that open only in sun (spring in the south); part of the Namaqualand flower spectacle.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- New Zealand spinach (warrigal greens) Tetragonia tetragonioides
- Hardy ice plant Delosperma cooperi
- Living stones (Leslie’s lithops) Lithops lesliei
- Hottentot fig (sour fig, ice plant) Carpobrotus edulis
- Common ice plant (crystalline ice plant) Mesembryanthemum crystallinum
- Creeping thyme Thymus serpyllum
- Hosta Hosta spp.
- Lamb's ear Stachys byzantina