High Country Gardens
Night-Blooming Ice Plant (Stomatium)
Best low-maintenance succulent for drought-tolerant rock gardens and nocturnal garden displays.
Discover the unique charm of the Sutherland Night Blooming Ice Plant, a cold-hardy succulent from South Africa. This perennial features fragrant, yellow, bottlebrush-like flowers that open exclusively at night, beginning in mid-spring. By day, its striking silver-grey, toothed foliage forms a dense, low-growing mat, resembling lichen. Ideal for rock gardens, groundcover, or containers, this low-maintenance plant is deer-resistant and waterwise, thriving in full sun. Its slow growth and drought tolerance make it a resilient addition to any garden seeking a touch of nocturnal beauty and unique texture.
$9.99
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
28
/ 2633
#28 in Flowers
Price vs Category Average
-75%
Below average
Mature Height
24
/ - inches
Who it's for
- Designers wanting year-round architectural interest in rock gardens
- Night owls seeking fragrant, moonlit garden ambiance
- Water-conscious gardeners designing low-maintenance xeriscapes
Who should skip it
- Impatient landscapers needing immediate, dense groundcover coverage
- Daytime gardeners wanting constant floral color
- Gardeners working with heavy, moisture-retaining clay soils
Performance breakdown
Drought Tolerance
Thrives in arid conditions with minimal supplemental irrigation required.
Visual Texture
Silver-grey, toothed foliage creates a sophisticated, lichen-like groundcover effect.
Maintenance Effort
A true set-it-and-forget-it perennial for low-intervention garden designs.
Nocturnal Appeal
Unique night-blooming habit offers a rare sensory experience after sunset.
Hardiness Range
Reliable performance across zones six through ten for diverse climates.
Deer Resistance
Succulent texture and chemical profile effectively deter common garden browsers.
Key Specs
Mature Height
2-4 inches
Mature Spread
12 inches
USDA Hardiness Zones
6-10
Ships As
Potted Plant (2.5" Pot)
Soil Requirement
Fast-draining soil
Origin
Republic of South Africa
Life Cycle
Perennial
Watering Needs
Low
Features
- Fragrant yellow flowers bloom at night
- Silver-grey, toothed succulent foliage
- Forms a tight mat, ideal for rock gardens
- Excellent for groundcover and mass planting
- Low maintenance and waterwise
- Deer resistant
- Suitable for container planting
- Collected from a cold region of South Africa
What customers say
Customers consistently praise the exceptional quality of the Night Blooming Ice Plant upon arrival. Reviewers frequently note the robust health and careful packaging, which ensures the delicate Stomatium establishes successfully. The primary delight centers on the plant's unique nocturnal blooming habit, confirming its reliability as a distinctive garden specimen. While specialized care is sometimes mentioned, the overall consensus highlights the excellent value derived from acquiring such a rare and reliably performing succulent. This plant delivers on its promise of unusual beauty.
Know before you buy
Yes, the yellow, bottlebrush-like flowers are nocturnal and open exclusively at night. During the day, you will primarily enjoy the plant's unique, silver-grey succulent foliage.
Absolutely. Because of its compact, mounding growth habit, it performs very well in containers, provided you use a fast-draining potting mix suitable for succulents.
This is a waterwise, drought-tolerant plant that requires very little supplemental irrigation once established. It is essential to plant it in well-draining soil to prevent root rot, as it does not tolerate sitting in wet, heavy conditions.
No, this plant is not considered pet-safe. It is best to keep it in an area of your garden or home that is inaccessible to curious cats or dogs.
The Night-Blooming Ice Plant is cold-hardy in USDA zones 6 through 10. As long as your garden falls within these zones and provides the required sharp drainage, it should return as a perennial each year.
It is a low-maintenance plant that requires very little attention. Its slow-growing, mounding habit means it won't quickly outgrow its space or require frequent pruning.
Still have a question?
Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.
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$10