Botanical Name: Delosperma cooperi ‘Rock Crystal Yellow’

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; Excels in Sandy or Rocky Soils

Water Needs: Very Low Once Established; Highly Drought Tolerant

Bloom Season: Late Spring through Fall

Fertilizer: Minimal Feeding; Avoid Excess Fertility

Features: Bright Yellow Blooms, Crystalline Flower Texture, 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: ❌ Not Patented

Propagation: ✔ Propagation Allowed

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

More About Delosperma ‘Rock Crystal Yellow’ (Ice Plant)

Delosperma ‘Rock Crystal Yellow’ delivers cheerful, high-impact color with remarkable toughness. Its vivid yellow, daisy-like flowers feature a subtle crystalline sparkle that becomes especially noticeable in full sun. Blooms open during the day and close in the evening, repeating this cycle steadily from late spring well into fall.

The plant forms a dense mat of fleshy, succulent foliage that hugs the ground and provides excellent coverage. In milder climates, the foliage remains evergreen, offering year-round texture and weed suppression. Even outside of peak bloom, Rock Crystal Yellow maintains a tidy, intentional appearance that works well in both naturalistic and designed landscapes.

Like others in the Rock Crystal Series, this variety excels in challenging conditions. It thrives in poor, sandy, or rocky soils as long as drainage is sharp, and once established, it requires very little supplemental water. This makes it an ideal choice for slopes, retaining walls, gravel gardens, and other high-stress areas where water is limited and heat is intense.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

At Garden Delivery, Delosperma ‘Rock Crystal Yellow’ has consistently impressed us with its reliability and season-long color. In our Upstate South Carolina trial gardens, it has handled summer heat, humidity, and intermittent drought without thinning or rotting, provided soils drain well. Where some ice plants struggle with wet spells or winter transitions, this selection has shown strong resilience and dependable return.

We especially appreciate how clean and controlled its growth habit remains. It spreads efficiently to fill space but stays low and well-defined, avoiding the loose or patchy look common with older ice plant varieties. The yellow blooms stay bright and cheerful deep into the season, offering dependable color when many drought-tolerant plants begin to fade.

Rock Crystal Yellow vs. Other Delosperma

Rock Crystal Yellow is the brightest, most cheerful color of our Delopserma offerings, making it especially easy to blend into a wide range of garden designs. Compared to Rock Crystal Orange, Yellow is less bold but more versatile, pairing effortlessly with silver foliage, stone, and cooler-toned plants. When set next to Jewel of the Desert Garnet, Yellow feels lighter and more relaxed, while Garnet brings depth and drama. Against Jewel of the Desert Opal, Yellow is clearer and more saturated, while Opal leans softer and more pastel. Like Orange, Rock Crystal Yellow focuses on heat tolerance and long bloom rather than enhanced cold hardiness. I tend to use Yellow when I want dependable brightness without overpowering nearby plants.