Description

Malephora luteola is often referred to as the “yellow ice plant”. It is a vigorous and hardy perennial species of plant native to South Africa.

It is sometimes referred to by the common name of the “rocky point ice plant” and mistakenly referred to as Malephora lutea.

Growth habit of Malephora luteola

The Yellow Ice Plant is a hearty, fast-growing trailing succulent. It loves full sun in Arizona and is a great choice for color on a mound, draping over a pot, or any location in a desert or tropical landscape design.

Malephora luteola is a spreading and mat-forming succulent groundcover. It has a moderate to fast growth rate (especially during summer rains).

Leaves of Malephora luteola

Malephora luteola has soft textured yet hardy and evergreen leaves.

The leaves are a bright green to turquoise colour and have a smooth and waxy surface.

Malephora luteola has fleshy leaves which are hemispherical to circular when cut in cross-section.

Flowers of Malephora luteola

The happy yellow flowers bloom during midday, especially in spring and summer (and sometimes other times of the year).

Each flower can have more than 20 thin delicate petals with a bright yellow center.

The flowers attract bees, pretty beetles, and occasionally butterflies.

How to grow Malephora luteola

Malephora luteola is a great choice for sunny spots in the garden, either in rockeries or sunny flowerbeds.

The yellow ice plant is a very drought resistant groundcover and is also considered to be cold and frost hardy.

It usually does not get fatal frost damage although it will grow best in places with low frost.

Each flower produces a seed capsule that, when mature, opens and releases seeds (when it becomes wet).

Nodes on the plants stems form new roots where they touch the ground or are burried.

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