Trailing ice plant (Lampranthus plautus)
Care, watering, light and tips for Trailing ice plant on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Aizoaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 14 days
- Light: Partial shade
- Temperature: 10–30 °C
About Trailing ice plant
Lampranthus plautus, known as Langbeen-t'nouroebos, is a fast-growing perennial succulent native to South Africa. It forms sprawling mats with trailing stems and bright green, cylindrical leaves, which are covered in small, vibrant purple-pink flowers in spring. It is ideal for ground cover in rock gardens, slopes, or in hanging baskets where its stems can cascade freely.
Native range
South Africa
Care tips
It requires full sun for optimal flowering and compact growth. Watering should be moderate, allowing the substrate to dry out completely between waterings, and very sparse in winter to prevent rot. Use a very well-draining substrate, preferably sandy or specific for cacti and succulents. A common mistake is overwatering, which can be fatal for this species.
How to save a dying Trailing ice plant
- Warning signs
- Soft, wrinkled, wilted leaves; rotting stems.
- First aid
- Remove affected parts, reduce watering, improve drainage. Repot in dry, light substrate.
- What kills it
- Overwatering and heavy soil. Cannot tolerate waterlogging.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if you act fast. It's resilient, but excess water is fatal.