Jewel of Desert Ruby ice plant (Delosperma ‘Jewel of Desert Ruby’) is a dazzling, mat-forming succulent ground cover that delivers an almost unbelievable show of color from late spring through the first frost. Part of the Jewel of Desert series developed by renowned breeder Koichiro Nishikawa, this low-growing evergreen perennial produces masses of daisy-like flowers with ruby-red petal tips that grade inward through a golden-yellow halo to a crisp white center eye, creating a jewel-toned, multi-colored effect that practically vibrates in the sunlight. Hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, it’s a tough, heat-loving, drought-tolerant plant that thrives in the kind of hot, dry, sun-baked conditions that would wilt most perennials.

Jewel of Desert Ruby grows just 4 to 6 inches tall and spreads vigorously to 8 to 10 inches wide or more, forming a dense, low carpet of small, fleshy, blue-green succulent leaves. The foliage is evergreen in zones 8 and warmer and takes on attractive burgundy tones in fall and winter in cooler areas. What sets this cultivar apart from many ice plants is its remarkably long bloom season. Flowers begin appearing in late spring and continue in waves through summer and into early fall, often blooming for five months or more in favorable conditions. The blossoms open in sunlight and close at night and on overcast days, so the show is at its peak on bright, sunny afternoons. Butterflies, bees, and other pollinators are drawn to the flowers in large numbers.

This ice plant demands full sun and well-drained soil, and it won’t tolerate wet feet or heavy clay. It’s deer resistant, drought tolerant, heat tolerant, and virtually maintenance-free once established. In the landscape, it’s an outstanding choice for rock gardens, alpine gardens, slopes and banks, border edges, gravel gardens, xeriscapes, green roofs, containers, and any sun-drenched spot where you need a low, colorful, waterwise ground cover. It’s also an excellent option for tucking into crevices in stone walls and between stepping stones, where its spreading habit fills gaps with living color.

Plant care

Watering

Once established, Jewel of Desert Ruby is remarkably drought tolerant and needs very little supplemental water. During its first growing season, water lightly and regularly to help the roots get settled, but always let the soil dry out completely between waterings. Overwatering is far more dangerous to this plant than underwatering. After that initial establishment period, most in-ground plantings in zones with any regular rainfall need little to no additional irrigation. In extremely hot, dry climates, an occasional deep watering during prolonged drought keeps the plant looking its best and supports continued flowering.

Container-grown plants dry out faster than those in the ground and will need more frequent watering, but the same principle applies: let the soil go fully dry between waterings. Never leave a potted ice plant sitting in a saucer of water or in a container without drainage holes. Soggy conditions will kill this plant faster than just about anything else.

Soil and planting

Excellent drainage is the single most critical requirement for growing Jewel of Desert Ruby successfully. It thrives in sandy, gravelly, rocky, and lean soils that would be too poor for most garden plants. If your native soil is heavy clay, you’ll need to amend it heavily with coarse sand, perlite, fine gravel, or pumice, or plant in raised beds or containers filled with a fast-draining mix. A gritty, cactus-style soil blend works well for container plantings.

Plant in spring after the danger of frost has passed, spacing plants about 10 to 12 inches apart for ground cover coverage. Set each plant at the same depth it was growing in its container and firm the soil gently around the roots. Avoid burying the crown or packing the soil too tightly. A top-dressing of pea gravel or fine stone chips around the plants helps keep moisture away from the crown and stems, mimicking the rocky conditions this plant naturally prefers.

Fertilizing

Jewel of Desert Ruby has very modest nutritional needs and actually performs better in lean soils than in rich ones. Heavy fertilization promotes soft, leggy growth that’s less drought tolerant, less cold hardy, and more prone to rot. In most situations, no fertilizer is needed at all. If the plant seems sluggish or the foliage looks pale, a single, light application of a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer in early spring is more than sufficient. For container-grown plants, a diluted liquid fertilizer once or twice during the growing season provides a gentle boost without overdoing it.

Pruning

Almost no pruning is required. The plant’s naturally tidy, mat-forming habit stays compact without intervention. In early spring, trim away any dead, damaged, or winter-burned foliage to make room for fresh new growth. If the center of an older clump becomes sparse or woody over time, light trimming encourages new shoots to fill in. Deadheading isn’t necessary to keep the flowers coming, as the plant is self-cleaning and continues producing new blooms without removal of the old ones.

Mulching

Traditional organic mulch like bark or wood chips isn’t appropriate for ice plants, as it retains moisture around the stems and crown, which promotes rot. Instead, use an inorganic mulch of gravel, pea stone, decomposed granite, or fine crushed rock. A thin layer of these materials around and between the plants helps with drainage, suppresses weeds, and keeps the crown area dry. This approach also creates a visually appealing setting that complements the plant’s natural appearance in rock gardens and xeriscape plantings.

Pests and diseases

Jewel of Desert Ruby is remarkably trouble-free when grown in the right conditions. It has no serious insect or disease problems in well-drained soil and full sun. Aphids and mealybugs may occasionally appear but are rarely more than a minor nuisance. A blast of water from the hose or a light application of insecticidal soap handles either pest.

The real threat to ice plants isn’t pests or pathogens but cultural conditions, specifically too much moisture. Root rot and crown rot caused by poor drainage, overwatering, or heavy mulch are the most common causes of plant loss. In humid climates with summer rainfall, siting the plant on a slope, in a raised bed, or in a rock garden where water drains away quickly is essential. Fungal issues are almost never a problem where the soil drains freely and the crown stays dry.

Winter care

Winter hardiness is the biggest concern for many ice plant growers, and it’s the area where drainage matters most. Jewel of Desert Ruby is rated to zone 5, and cold temperatures alone rarely kill it. What does kill ice plants in winter is the combination of cold and wet. Frozen, waterlogged soil around the roots and crown causes far more winter losses than low temperatures. The key to winter survival in zones 5 and 6 is ensuring the planting site drains exceptionally well and keeping the crown as dry as possible heading into the cold months.

In marginal areas, a light covering of evergreen boughs or a thin layer of straw placed loosely over the plants after the ground freezes provides a bit of extra insulation without trapping moisture. Remove the covering in early spring as soon as temperatures begin to moderate. In zones 7 and above, winter protection is rarely necessary.

The foliage may look a bit ragged by late winter in colder zones, sometimes browning or developing a purplish cast. This is normal. Fresh green growth pushes through in spring as temperatures warm, and the plant quickly recovers its appearance. Don’t be too hasty about pulling out plants that look rough in March; give them a few weeks of warm weather before judging their viability.

The Jewel of Desert series

Jewel of Desert Ruby is part of a broader series of ice plant cultivars bred for improved flower size, color range, and garden performance. Other selections in the series include Jewel of Desert Garnet, with rich magenta-pink flowers; Jewel of Desert Topaz, featuring golden-yellow blooms; Jewel of Desert Peridot, with chartreuse-yellow flowers; Jewel of Desert Moonstone, in soft white; and Jewel of Desert Rosequartz, a warm pink. Planting several varieties from the series together creates a tapestry of color across a rock garden or slope, with each cultivar sharing the same compact habit, long bloom period, and cultural requirements. The multi-colored effect of different Jewel of Desert varieties interplanted in a sunny border or spilling over a retaining wall is genuinely striking.

Container growing

Jewel of Desert Ruby is an excellent container plant and works particularly well in shallow bowls, troughs, and strawberry pots where its spreading habit can cascade over the edges. Use a gritty, fast-draining potting mix, and make sure the container has plenty of drainage holes. Terra cotta pots are an especially good choice because they’re porous and help wick excess moisture away from the soil.

In containers, the plant makes a wonderful “spiller” in mixed succulent arrangements and can be combined with other drought-tolerant companions like sedums, sempervivums, and small ornamental grasses. Water container plantings only when the soil is completely dry. In cold climates, potted ice plants can be moved to a sheltered, dry location for winter or brought into an unheated garage or cold frame where they’re protected from the worst of the wet cold.

Fire resistance

Ice plants, including Jewel of Desert Ruby, are considered fire-resistant due to their succulent, moisture-retaining foliage that doesn’t readily ignite. In fire-prone regions of the western United States, they’re sometimes used in defensible space landscaping around homes, planted in the zone immediately adjacent to structures where fire-resistant ground covers are recommended. While no plant is completely fireproof, the low, succulent growth habit and lack of dry, flammable material make ice plants a practical component of fire-wise landscape plans.

Landscape uses

Jewel of Desert Ruby is one of the most versatile and rewarding ground covers for sunny, dry sites. In rock gardens and alpine gardens, it nestles between stones and fills crevices with a mat of colorful flowers that looks perfectly natural. On slopes and banks, it provides erosion control while blooming profusely all season. Along border edges and pathways, its low, spreading habit creates a tidy, colorful ribbon that spills just slightly over hard surfaces without becoming invasive.

In xeriscapes and waterwise gardens, it’s an indispensable plant that provides months of bloom with virtually no irrigation once established. It pairs beautifully with other drought-tolerant perennials like lavender, dianthus, creeping thyme, armeria, and ornamental sedums. On green roofs and in rooftop gardens, its shallow root system, drought tolerance, and low profile make it well suited to the extreme conditions of these environments.

In containers, window boxes, and mixed succulent plantings, it adds vivid color and a trailing, spilling habit that softens edges and catches the eye. It’s also useful for filling in the hot, dry strips between a driveway and a sidewalk, along sunny foundation walls, and in other challenging microclimates where few other plants thrive.

FAQ

How long does Jewel of Desert Ruby ice plant bloom? It has one of the longest bloom seasons of any perennial ground cover, flowering from late spring through early fall and sometimes continuing until the first hard frost. In favorable conditions, that’s five months or more of continuous color. The flowers open fully in bright sunlight, so the display is most dramatic on clear, sunny days.

Is Jewel of Desert Ruby ice plant invasive? No. While it spreads vigorously by stems that root along the ground, it’s not considered invasive in North American gardens. It stays low and compact, and it’s easy to keep within bounds by trimming the edges if it starts to creep beyond its allotted space. It doesn’t self-seed aggressively or naturalize in wild areas.

Will ice plant survive winter in zone 5? It can, but winter survival in zones 5 and 6 depends heavily on drainage. Cold alone isn’t usually the problem. The combination of cold and wet soil is what kills most ice plants in winter. Excellent drainage, a gravel mulch, and a well-chosen planting site that doesn’t collect water or snow melt dramatically improve winter survival. Planting on a south-facing slope or in a raised rock garden gives the best odds.

Do ice plant flowers close at night? Yes. The daisy-like flowers of Jewel of Desert Ruby open in bright sunlight and close at night and on cloudy, overcast days. The display is at its peak during sunny afternoon hours. This is a normal characteristic of Delosperma and not a sign of any problem.

Can I walk on Jewel of Desert Ruby ice plant? It’s not a walkable ground cover. While the plants are low and dense, foot traffic crushes the succulent foliage and damages the stems. If you’re planting it between stepping stones, position the plants between the stones where they won’t be stepped on directly. The mat will fill in around the pavers and create a beautiful effect without being trampled.

Why did my ice plant die over winter? The most common cause of winter loss is wet soil, not cold temperatures. Ice plants are succulents adapted to dry conditions, and waterlogged soil during the cold months causes root and crown rot. Improving drainage, using gravel mulch instead of organic mulch, and avoiding low-lying planting sites that collect water and snow melt are the best preventive measures. Heavy, unamended clay soil is particularly deadly in winter.

Can I grow Jewel of Desert Ruby in partial shade? It really needs full sun, at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, to perform well. In partial shade, flowering is dramatically reduced, growth becomes leggy and open, and the plant is more susceptible to moisture problems. If your site doesn’t get full sun, a different ground cover would be a better choice.

How do I propagate Jewel of Desert Ruby? The easiest method is stem cuttings. Snip a 3- to 4-inch section of stem, remove the lower leaves, let the cut end dry for a day or two to callus over, and insert it into moist, gritty, well-drained soil. Keep the cutting in bright, indirect light and water sparingly until roots form, which usually takes a few weeks. The stems also root naturally where they contact the soil, so you can separate and transplant rooted sections from the edges of an established mat. Note that Jewel of Desert Ruby is a patented variety, so commercial propagation requires a license.

Does Jewel of Desert Ruby attract pollinators? Yes. The flowers are popular with bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects. The long bloom season makes it a reliable nectar source from late spring through fall, a period during which many shorter-blooming plants have already finished. Planting it alongside other pollinator-friendly perennials in a sunny garden creates a valuable feeding station for a wide range of beneficial insects.