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 plant color while maintaining the toughness the genus is known for. The flowers display a luminous pink tone with subtle opalescent highlights that shimmer in direct sunlight. Blooms open fully during the day and close in the evening, repeating consistently from late spring through fall.

The foliage forms a dense, ground-hugging mat of fleshy, succulent leaves that provide excellent coverage and year-round structure in mild climates. Even outside of peak bloom, Opal maintains a clean, intentional appearance that works well in both modern and naturalistic planting schemes.

Like other selections in the Jewel of the Desert Series, Opal was bred for improved cold tolerance and flower density. It survives winter conditions better than older ice plant varieties and rebounds evenly in spring, making it a dependable long-term groundcover rather than a short-lived accent plant.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

At Garden Delivery, Delosperma ‘Jewel of the Desert Opal’ has impressed us with its balance of elegance and durability. In our Upstate South Carolina trials, it has handled summer heat, humidity, and drought while maintaining dense growth and steady flowering. Unlike some lighter-colored ice plants that fade or wash out under stress, Opal retains its soft pink tone well into the heat of summer.

We also value how controlled its growth habit remains. It spreads efficiently to fill space without becoming aggressive or uneven, making it easy to use in defined borders, gravel gardens, and containers. The softer flower color makes it especially versatile in design, pairing effortlessly with stone, silver foliage, ornamental grasses, and other drought-tolerant perennials.

Delosperma ‘Jewel of the Desert Opal’ Compared to Other Varieties

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.