Creeping shrubby ice plant (Ruschia pulvinaris) is a perennial succulent that forms a soft, cool carpet of evergreen foliage and fuchsia-pink flowers in late spring. The blooms last about three to four weeks, but the low-growing perennial still looks tidy when not in bloom thanks to its mat of short stems and succulent foliage.
Creeping shrubby ice plant is a member of the Aizoaceae family, a huge grouping of mostly low-lying groundcovers. Like creeping shrubby ice plant, many plants in the Aizoaceae family carry the common name of ice plant—which surprisingly, doesn’t reference their cold hardiness. Ice plants are so named for the bladder-like cells or hairs on the leaves and stems which glimmer in the light and resemble frost or frozen dew.
Creeping Shrubby Ice Plant Overview
Where to Plant Creeping Shrubby Ice Plant
Like other xeric ice plants, creeping shrubby ice plant requires excellent drainage, bright sun, and protection from freezing. It is only hardy in zones 6-10.
Plant creeping shrubby ice plants with other low-water perennials and xeric plants for a garden that shines during extended dry periods. Creeping shrubby ice plant is particularly well suited for rock gardens, where its fleshy stems and bright pink springtime flowers add unique texture and color to gray, rocky landscapes. It is also a great perennial to hug the ground and fill in bare spots between other low-water perennials and shrubs.
Creeping shrubby ice plant is not a favorite among deer and rabbits, making it an excellent choice for gardens frequently plundered by foraging animals. Its creeping, mat-like growth habit also discourages weeds while its fuchsia-pink blooms invite pollinators. So, place your creeping shrubby ice plant near the edges and front of your garden where you can enjoy its blooms.
How and When to Plant Creeping Shrubby Ice Plant
In Zones 7-10, creeping shrubby ice plants can be planted in spring or fall. In Zone 6, plant them in the spring to ensure it is fully established before cold winter temperatures set in.
In well-drained soil, make a hole just large enough to keep the plant at the same level as in its container. Ruschia pulvinaris is prone to rot in heavy soils. So, if necessary, double-dig the soil (separate and loosen the topsoil and subsoil) to break up the hardpan and improve oxygen absorption. Use your fingers to loosen the roots of your creeping shrubby ice plant before placing it in the hole and replacing the soil. If planting more than one shrubby ice plant, place them 12 to 15 inches apart.
Immediately after planting, water well. Spread a layer of shredded bark mulch or small gravel around plants after planting to help conserve soil moisture and prevent weeds. Continue watering your shrubby ice plants every 1 to 2 weeks to encourage a strong root system—but only during the first growing season. Mature shrubby ice plants can tolerate months of drought.
Creeping Shrubby Ice Plant Care Tips
Once established, creeping shrubby ice plant requires little (if any) annual maintenance. Plus, with lots of sun and well-drained soil, the perennial succulent will produce bright magenta spring flowers that welcome beneficial butterflies and bees.
Light
Creeping shrubby ice plant tolerates part shade but grows and blooms best in full sun. The bright pink flowers of the shrubby ice plant open in bright sunlight and close on cloudy days or when the sun goes down.
Soil and Water
Plant creeping shrubby ice plant in well-drained soil. The long-lived, ground-hugging plant also grows well in sandy or gravely soil. However, the perennial is prone to root rot in heavy clay soils.
Water your new shrubby ice plants well after planting. Continue watering them every 1 to 2 weeks during the first growing season. This will encourage a strong root system. Cease watering after the first growing season.
Temperature and Humidity
Creeping shrubby ice plants are native to South Africa and hardy in zones 6-10. They prefer dry to average humidity and mild to subtropical climates. The low-growing succulents can survive temperatures as low as 10˚ Fahrenheit. However, prolonged exposure to temperatures below 40˚ may damage the plant.
Fertilizer
Most creeping shrubby ice plants need no fertilization. If your plant is struggling, feed it with a slow-release, low-nitrogen formula in early spring before flowering begins.
Pruning
Creeping shrubby ice plant doesn’t need pruning, but if desired, you can cut it back as it creeps close to nearby plants.
Potting and Repotting
Creeping shrubby ice plants make excellent container plants, especially when it is allowed to spill over the edge of a pot, trough, or garden box. Choose a container with excellent drainage (at least 1 gallon) and fill it with a 3:2:2 mixture of soil, coarse sand, and perlite. Place your plant in the container and water it weekly for the first month, especially if the weather is hot and dry. After the first month, water your shrubby ice plant every 2 to 4 weeks in the spring and summer and less frequently (or not at all) in the fall and winter.
Creeping shrubby ice plant has only a 5-year lifespan and shouldn’t need to be repotted. If, however, it outgrows its container, you can divide the plant in the spring. Carefully dig up the plant and use a sharp, sterile knife to separate the roots into 2 or 3 sections. Replant each section in a new container.
Overwintering
In colder climates—especially those with cold, wet weather—creeping shrubby ice plants may need protection. In the fall, stop watering your plants (if you are at all) and allow them to dehydrate. Provide a cold frame and heat packs for in-ground shrubby ice plants and move container-grown creeping shrubby ice plants to a sheltered, unheated location that remains above 40˚ Fahrenheit.
Pests and Problems
Most pests—including deer and rabbits—leave creeping shrubby ice plant alone. The perennial is, however, prone to root rot when kept in soggy soil or exposed to excessively cold, wet weather.
How to Propagate Creeping Shrubby Ice Plant
You can propagate creeping shrubby ice plant via cuttings (taken anytime from spring to fall), through division, or by planting seeds. When sowing the seeds, simply scatter them on the soil surface. They need light to germinate, so do not cover them with soil.
To divide your creeping shrubby ice plant, gently lift your plant (without uprooting it) to look for rooted stems. Separate the plant between rooted stems. Uproot one of the rooted sections and replant it in a separate container or location (at least 12 to 15 inches apart), tamp down the soil, and water gently. Or, carefully dig up your entire plant and use a sharp, sterile knife to separate the roots into 2 or 3 sections. Replant each section in a new container or spot.
To take a cutting, choose a healthy 2- to 3-inch stem or clump of the plant. Allow your cutting to air-dry for several days until it forms a callus. When you’re ready, plant the callused end of the cutting in sand or a succulent mix. Water just enough to dampen the soil and place the container in a sunny spot. Your cutting should start forming roots in 2 to 3 weeks.
Companion Plants for Creeping Shrubby Ice Plant
False Cypress
If you're looking for some privacy in your full-sun garden, consider a row of false cypress (Chamaecyparis spp), a hardy conifer that grows best in zones 3-9. False cypress prefers full sun to partial shade and average well-drained soil, with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (5.5 and 7.5). Place container-grown false cypress trees on either side of an entry door as natural columns. Or, grow dwarf cultivars in a rock garden alongside creeping juniper and blue fescue. Just make sure you plant your shrubby ice plant on the sunny side of your false cypress trees.
Manzanita
Manzanita is an evergreen shrub that bears tiny, apple-like fruits that give way to clusters of flowers from late winter to early spring. A true California native, manzanitas grow best in full sun and Mediterranean-like climates with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Plant your manzanita in well-drained, acidic soil (4.0 to 7.0 pH) with no amendments. Like shrubby ice plants, manzanitas are drought tolerant and need little (if any) water once established. There are over 100 species of manzanitas—from low-growing groundcovers to towering 20-foot-tall plants—to choose from. So, if the climate is right, there is likely a great cultivar for your landscape. Zones 8-10
Potentilla
Potentilla is a low-growing shrub that grows best in zones 2-7 but prefers similar conditions to the shrubby ice plant. So, in crossover climates where shrubby ice plant is hardy, potentilla is a good option for containers or rock gardens. Plant it along walkways, use it as a foundation plant, or put it to work on a slope to stop erosion. As long as it has ample sun and dry to moist soil, potentilla is a snap to grow. Wherever you put it, the North American native offers compact, bushy foliage and cheery anemone-like flowers.
Rose of Sharon
Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is a woody shrub that flowers abundantly from midsummer until the first frost in zones 5-9. It prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil but tolerates poor or sandy soil (as long as drainage is not an issue). Plant rose of Sharon in a mixed shrub border or use it as an easy-to-grow foundation planting. Use your creeping shrubby ice plant to create a groundcover around your rose of Sharon—just be careful not to block the sunlight for your ice plant.
Sedum
Sedums are remarkably popular low-maintenance plants—especially in hot, arid climates. They do best in full sun and well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil. There are two main types of sedums: creeping and upright. The creeping types work beautifully as drought-tolerant groundcovers in rock gardens or when planted on walls and allowed to spill through the cracks. Upright varieties (like Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, Sedum ‘Thunderhead’, and Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’) add stunning color and texture when planted with creeping shrubby ice plant in borders or mixed beds.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is creeping shrubby ice plant related to hardy ice plant?Hardy ice plant (Delosperma cooperi) and creeping shrubby ice plant (Ruschia pulvinaris) both belong to the Aizoaceae family. They are also both mat-forming succulent groundcovers that flourish in well-drained soil and full sun. They are, however, different plants—each with its own genus. Comparatively, shrubby ice plant has a slightly more compact habit. For this reason, it is often referred to as “congested ice plant”. Also, Ruschia pulvinaris blooms earlier than Delosperma cooperi (which blooms from midsummer to fall). Plant them together to have bright magenta flowers for nearly 6 months.
Hardy ice plant (Delosperma cooperi) and creeping shrubby ice plant (Ruschia pulvinaris) both belong to the Aizoaceae family. They are also both mat-forming succulent groundcovers that flourish in well-drained soil and full sun. They are, however, different plants—each with its own genus. Comparatively, shrubby ice plant has a slightly more compact habit. For this reason, it is often referred to as “congested ice plant”. Also, Ruschia pulvinaris blooms earlier than Delosperma cooperi (which blooms from midsummer to fall). Plant them together to have bright magenta flowers for nearly 6 months.
- Does creeping shrubby ice plant hold up to foot traffic?No. Ruschia pulvinaris is a vigorous evergreen groundcover but it doesn’t tolerate foot traffic well. For pavers or walkways, look for something sturdier like sedum or creeping Jenny.
No. Ruschia pulvinaris is a vigorous evergreen groundcover but it doesn’t tolerate foot traffic well. For pavers or walkways, look for something sturdier like sedum or creeping Jenny.
- Is creeping shrubby ice plant toxic to pets?No, Ruschia pulvinaris is not considered toxic to pets or humans.
No, Ruschia pulvinaris is not considered toxic to pets or humans.