Delosperma 'Jewel of Desert Peridot'

Delosperma 'Jewel of Desert Peridot': Easygoing Yellow, Hot Strip Approved

Bright yellow daisies with a white centre spread across a low succulent mat like somebody spilled a jar of lemon drops on the gravel. This ice plant takes full sun and dry spells in stride. ZERO CALORIES, ALL CANDY.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Delosperma cooperi 'Jewel of Desert Peridot'
• Common Name: Hardy Ice Plant
• Series: Jewel of Desert
• Height: 10–15 cm (4–6 in)
• Spread: 25–30 cm (10–12 in)
• Flowers: Bright yellow, daisy-like, with a white centre and yellow anthers. They open in sunshine.
• Bloom Time: Late spring to fall (May to September)
• Foliage: Small, succulent green leaves forming a low mat
• Plant Patent: USPP 23,566

Where to Plant: Use Peridot to edge a sunny walk, fill the gaps in a gravel garden, soften the top of a stone wall, or trail from a hot container. Hot, dry spots suit it best.

Companion Plants: Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Alba' opens white flowers in April and May, before the ice plant starts. Salvia 'Blue Hill' adds blue spikes from June to September, a fresh match for the yellow flowers. Achillea millefolium brings flat white heads in June and July at 60 cm. These plants all thrive in sun and dry soil.

Plant Care: Plant it in full sun, in sandy or gritty soil with sharp drainage. Water as it establishes over the first few weeks, then only when the weather stays dry for a long stretch. Leave out the fertilizer. Winter wet is the biggest threat in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal gardens. Skip heavy clay and soggy low spots, and choose a slope, raised bed or rock garden instead. Don't pile leaves or thick mulch on top of it in fall. Nothing needs cutting back. Tidy up any dead sections in spring. Rooted pieces from the edge transplant easily.

History: Delosperma cooperi is native to South Africa. Japanese breeder Koichiro Nishikawa developed the Jewel of Desert series, and Peridot was selected in his trial garden in Aichi Prefecture in November 2006 from a 2005 self-cross.

Final Thoughts: Deer resistant, low maintenance and a bee buffet. Tuck it into a rock garden. SUNSHINE IN YOUR POCKET.