Ice plant
Hylotelephium
An ornamental plant, planted March to May or September.
In September: nothing to do. It can be planted now. Wear gloves: it can irritate skin.
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Ice plant, month by month
Bar: the usual months. Sprout: this month.
| Sowing, planting or job | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2027Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant a pot-grown ice plant. | usual | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
| Cut back the ice plant. | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none |
| Lift and divide the ice plant. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
| Cut the ice plant stems back by a third to a half (upright, strong-growing forms only). | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | none | none | none |
What to do, and when
The usual months for a UK garden. Your own plan gives the week.
Handle it with care
Wear gloves: it can irritate skin.
Weaker source: Love The Garden.
Planting
Plant a pot-grown ice plant March to May, and September, 45 to 60cm apart. Strong sources: RHS and Mr Fothergill’s.
Cut back the ice plant
Cut off the old flowerheads; tiny rosettes of new leaves will be showing at the base.
Usually February to March. Moderate source: Gardeners’ World.
Lift and divide the ice plant
Every 3 to 4 years, not every year.
Usually March to May. Strong source: RHS.
Cut the ice plant stems back by a third to a half
Gardeners call this the Chelsea chop.
For upright, strong-growing forms only.
Usually May. Strong source: RHS.
What the source words mean
Strong: the RHS page for this plant is among them.Moderate: another trusted UK source, or the RHS on its group.Weaker: a blog, a forum, a small website or a page from outside the UK. Treat it as a guide.
Every line above names the page it comes from. Where we found no good source for a job, we left it out. Where the name “Ice plant” comes from.