Oscularia deltoides
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Oscularia deltoides is a wonderful ground cover for dry areas including dry slopes. It is moderately fast growing, but easily contained, and works well in succulent and cactus plantings, dry borders, parking strips and rock gardens. It also looks great trailing over walls and out of containers. This plant is fire and deer resistant.
This is a very attractive ice plant. It is evergreen and has triangular gray green toothed leaves which contrast nicely with its burgundy pink-to-purple stems. It grows slightly taller and bushier than most ice plants and has distinctive foliage that is attractive year round. In late spring and summer the plant is covered in 1″ bright pink almond-scented flowers that are attractive to pollinating insects. The flowers are closed in the morning and open when the sun shines on them.
Oscularia deltoides is very drought tolerant and can take extremes of temperature without showing signs of stress. It will also thrive in poor soils as long as they have adequate drainage.
The genus name comes from the Latin work ‘osculum’ meaning little mouth and refers to the way the leaves look like open mouths complete with teeth.
Horticultural Data
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Names and Synonyms: Lampranthus deltoids, Lampranthus multiradiatus, Mesembryanthemum deltoides, Oscularia muricata
Common Names: Pink Iceplant
Family: Aizoaceae
Origin: It grows in crevices on steep sandstone rocks in the winter rainfall areas of the South-Western Cape of South Africa
Size Label: 1 gallon
Height: 8-12″
Width: 24-36″
Cold Tolerance: 15 to 20°F, -9.4 to -6.6°C
Heat Tolerance: Very high heat tolerance
Light Requirement: Full sun to light shade though plants in heavier shade will not bloom much.
Water needs: Very drought tolerant but needs winter rains. It can take irrigation as well.
Maintenance: This plant may need trimming to shape growth in smaller gardens.
Uses: Oscularia deltoides is a wonderful ground cover for dry areas including dry slopes. It is moderately fast growing, but easily contained, and works well in succulent and cactus plantings, dry borders, parking strips and rock gardens. It also looks great trailing over walls and out of containers. This plant is fire and deer resistant.
Propagation: It is easy to propagate this plant from cuttings. It can also be grown from seed, which should be sewn in autumn before winter rains.
Problems: None but is best grown in well-draining soils.
Research Links:
http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=2625
http://plantlust.com/plants/oscularia-deltoides/
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/58426/
http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantnop/osculdelt.htm
http://www.llifle.com/Encyclopedia/SUCCULENTS/Family/Aizoaceae/27628/Lampranthus_deltoides
Shipping & Availability
Description | Horticultural Data | Shipping & Availability | Top
There is a minimum purchase of any 4 plants for online orders. All plants shipped bare root. Other sizes may be available for pick up from our growing grounds in Fallbrook, CA. For more information, give us a call at 760-990-4762.
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