Common Name: shrubby ice plant
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Aizoaceae
Native Range: South Africa
Zone: 6 to 10
Height: 0.25 to 0.33 feet
Spread: 0.75 to 1.00 feet
Bloom Time: April to June
Bloom Description: Magenta-purple, Pink
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Ground Cover
Tolerate: Rabbit, Deer, Drought, Shallow-Rocky Soil
Culture
Best grown in medium to dry, sandy or rocky, loose, well-draining soils in full sun. Tolerant of drought once established. Hardy in Zones 6-10. Requires dry conditions in winter. Intolerant of clayey, compacted, poorly drained soil.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Ruschia pulvinaris, commonly called shrubby ice plant or congested ice plant, is a perennial sub-shrub native to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Small, triangular, grey-green foliage is held on thin woody stems. Mature clumps have a creeping, spreading habit and can reach around 3-4" tall and fill a 1' area. In mid-spring the foliage is blanketed with bright magenta-purple, 1" diameter flowers. Highly attractive to butterflies and other insect pollinators.
Genus name honors a South African farmer, Ernst Julius Rusch (1867-1957).
The specific epithet pulvinaris means "cushioned", possibly in reference to the growth habit of this species.
Problems
No major pest or disease problems of note. Root rot is possible if sited in poorly drained or overly wet soils.
Uses
Rock gardens, alpine gardens, xeriscaping. Suitable for container plantings