DOROTHEANTHUS bellidiformis Mesembryanthemum, Ice Plant ____________________________________ Type: Annual Height: 4-6" (10-15cm) Flowering Time: Summer Flower Colour: White, yellow, orange, red, pink, mauve, purple ____________________________________ Botanical Classification: Class: Angiospermae (Angiosperms) Subclass: Dicotyledonae (Dicotyledons) Superorder: Caryophyllidae (Pink Superorder) Order: Caryophyllales (Pink Order) Family: Aizoaceae (Mesembryanthemum Family) Genus: Dorotheanthus (Dorotheanthus) Species: bellidiformis (like a daisy) ____________________________________

Dorotheanthus bellidiformis is another popular plant better known to gardeners by its former name, Mesembryanthemum. It is a low-growing annual with often reddish stems and fleshy, rubbery, greyish-green leaves, both covered in transparent bobbles which give rise to the common name of Ice Plant, as the plant looks as if it is covered in tiny beads of ice. Plants form dense mats and in summer carry many daisy-like flowers in bright colours on stems to about 3" long. Dorotheanthus bellidiformis is a useful plant for growing on sunny slopes, between paving, or in bare patches in the rockery. Flowers only open in the sun, so it needs a sunny position, but it is tolerant of dry, poor soil.

Dorotheanthus bellidiformis can be severely damaged by slugs and snails.

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Harvesting and Growing from Seed:

				Germination: Spring Inside (32 days) Winter Inside (7 days)
Seed Pod The seedpod is a flat round pod inside the starry calyx, and opens with a star shape. Seed The seeds are small pale beige chips. There are many seeds in a pod. Seedling The seedling is small, with long, narrow fleshy leaves with rounded tips, often tinted red.