Botanical Name: Delosperma cooperi ‘Jewel of the Desert Opal’

Common Name: Ice Plant

Hardiness Zone: Perennial in Most Climates (USDA Zones 5–10)

Size: 4–6" Tall × 12–18" Spread

Growth Habit: Low-Growing, Spreading, Mat-Forming

Sunlight: Thrives in Full Sun

Soil: Prefers Very Well-Drained Soil; Performs Best in Sandy or Rocky Soils

Water Needs: Very Low Once Established; Excellent Drought Tolerance

Bloom Season: Late Spring through Fall

Fertilizer: Minimal Feeding; Excess Fertility Reduces Flowering

Features: Soft Opalescent Pink Blooms, Heavy Flower Coverage, Evergreen Succulent Foliage, Extreme Heat & Drought Tolerance, Deer Resistant, Pollinator Friendly

Uses: Ideal for Rock Gardens, Slopes, Borders, Edging, Gravel Beds, Containers, and Dry Landscapes

Patent: ✔ Patented

Propagation: ❌ Propagation Prohibited Without License

Series Note: Part of the Jewel of the Desert Series, known for superior cold hardiness, intense color clarity, and heavy, season-long blooming.

See our complete Delosperma Growth & Care Guide for full care details.

More About Delosperma ‘Jewel of the Desert Opal’ 

Delosperma ‘Jewel of the Desert Opal’ offers a softer, more refined take on Ice Plants while still delivering the toughness this genus is known for. The flowers display a luminous pink tone with subtle opalescent highlights that almost glow when the sun hits them just right. In the late afternoon light, there’s a gentle shimmer to the petals that feels elegant rather than flashy. Blooms open wide during the day to soak up the sunshine and neatly close in the evening, repeating this rhythm from late Spring well into Fall without skipping a beat. It gives you that steady, dependable color that I’m always looking for in a groundcover.

The foliage forms a dense, ground-hugging mat of fleshy, succulent leaves that knit together tightly over time. It creates excellent coverage, suppressing weeds and softening hard edges along stone paths or gravel beds. In milder Winters, the foliage stays attractive year-round, providing structure and a finished look even when little else is happening in the garden. Even outside of peak bloom, Opal maintains a clean, intentional appearance that fits beautifully in both modern landscapes and more relaxed, naturalistic plantings. I’ve always appreciated plants that still look “on purpose” when they’re not flowering, and this one absolutely does.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

Here at Garden Delivery, Delosperma ‘Jewel of the Desert Opal’ has really impressed us with its balance of elegance and durability. In our Upstate South Carolina trials, it has handled intense Summer heat, heavy humidity, and periods of drought without thinning out or losing its flower power. The foliage stays tight and succulent even when conditions get tough. Unlike some lighter-colored ice plants that fade, bleach, or look tired by the end of Summer, Opal holds its soft pink tone remarkably well. That color stability alone makes it stand out in a crowded field.

We also appreciate how controlled and disciplined its growth habit remains. It spreads efficiently to fill in space but doesn’t surge forward in a way that feels aggressive or unruly. That makes it easy to use in defined borders, along walkways, in gravel gardens, or even spilling slightly over container edges. The softer pink bloom is incredibly versatile in design and it pairs effortlessly with natural stone, silver foliage like Artemisia, Ornamental Grasses, and other drought-tolerant perennials. In my own designs, I love using it to soften the base of boulders or anchor a sunny edge where I need reliable coverage without sacrificing beauty.

'Jewel of the Desert Opal’ vs. Other Ice Plants

Jewel of the Desert Opal is a refined and subtle Ice Plant, with soft pink, opalescent flowers that glow rather than shout. When placed beside Jewel of the Desert Garnet, Opal offers contrast through softness instead of intensity. Like Garnet, Opal benefits from the Jewel of the Desert series’ improved cold tolerance and heavy flowering.

Compared to Rock Crystal Orange and Yellow, Opal feels calmer and more blended, making it ideal for transitional plantings. Its growth habit remains compact and controlled, similar to the Rock Crystal varieties, but with slightly more emphasis on flower density. I choose Opal when I want elegance and cohesion without sacrificing toughness.