Jewel of Desert Garnet Ice Plant
Jewel of Desert Garnet Ice Plant
Glowing Garnet-Red Blooms on a Sun-Loving Succulent
Jewel of Desert Garnet Ice Plant (Delosperma 'Jewel of Desert Garnet') sparkles with deep garnet-red, daisy-like flowers over a low mat of fleshy, evergreen foliage. It loves heat, sun, and bone-dry soil, making a jewel-toned groundcover for rock gardens and hot, sandy beds. In Minnesota it sits at the warm edge of its range, so give it the sharpest drainage and sunniest spot you have — or enjoy it as a brilliant container and seasonal plant.
Jewel of Desert Garnet Plant Details
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Delosperma 'Jewel of Desert Garnet' |
| Mature Size | 2–4 in. tall, 12–16 in. wide |
| Hardiness Zone | 6–10 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a — marginal; grow in sharp drainage or as a container/annual) |
| Light | Full sun (6+ hours) |
| Bloom Time | Late spring through summer |
| Flower Color | Deep garnet-red |
| Soil | Sharp-draining, sandy or gravelly; rots in wet clay |
| Winter Hardiness | Marginal in the Twin Cities — needs perfect drainage and a protected spot to attempt overwintering |
| Deer Resistance | Rarely browsed by deer or rabbits |
Landscape Uses in Minnesota
Rock gardens and containers: Its succulent mat shines in gravelly rock gardens, trough plantings, and pots that can be sited for maximum heat and drainage. Space 12–15 inches apart.
Hot, sandy edges: A glowing accent for the front of a dry, sunny bed. Pair with sedum, hens-and-chicks, and Fire Spinner ice plant.
Best Time to Plant in Minnesota
Plant in late spring (May) once soil is warm. Choose the hottest, best-drained, most sheltered spot available.
How to Plant Jewel of Desert Garnet Ice Plant
Drainage is everything. Plant on a slope, raised bed, or in a gritty container, amending heavy clay heavily with coarse sand and grit. Set the crown slightly high, water in lightly, and mulch with gravel — never bark or compost against the crown. Space 12–15 inches apart.
Watering Jewel of Desert Garnet Ice Plant
First year: Water sparingly — every 5–7 days while establishing, letting soil dry between. Keep it dry heading into fall.
After year one: Extremely drought-tolerant — little to no supplemental water. Overwatering is the most common cause of failure.
Q: Will it survive a Minnesota winter?
It's marginal here. Rated to about zone 6, it can sometimes overwinter in the Twin Cities only in a gravelly, raised, very sheltered spot. Many gardeners grow it in containers or treat it as a brilliant seasonal plant.
Q: Why is drainage so important?
As a succulent, it cannot tolerate soggy soil, especially in winter — wet feet, not cold, is what kills ice plants here.
Q: Is it deer-resistant?
Yes — deer and rabbits rarely touch the fleshy foliage.
Q: What if I want a hardier ice plant?
Fire Spinner is the most cold-tolerant ice plant we carry and the better bet for in-ground planting in Minnesota.
You May Also Like
Fire Spinner Ice Plant (Delosperma): The hardiest ice plant for in-ground Minnesota planting.
Hens-and-Chicks (Sempervivum): A bulletproof, fully hardy rock-garden succulent.
Sedum: A hardy succulent groundcover for the same dry, sunny spots.
How Many Jewel of Desert Garnet Ice Plant Do I Need?
Space plants 12–15 in apart in the hottest, best-drained spot or a gritty container. Plan on roughly 0.8 plants per square foot.
| Area to Cover | Plants Needed (~12–15 in spacing) |
|---|---|
| 10 sq ft | ~8 |
| 20 sq ft | ~16 |
| 40 sq ft | ~32 |
Jewel of Desert Garnet Season-by-Season in Minnesota
- Spring: The fleshy evergreen mat greens up and opens deep garnet-red, daisy-like blooms in late spring.
- Summer: Sparkling garnet flowers continue over a bone-dry-tolerant succulent carpet.
- Fall: Flowering tapers off; keep it dry going into winter.
- Winter: Marginal here — it can persist only in a gravelly, raised, sheltered spot, or overwinter in a pot.
At a Glance
✔ Pollinator-Friendly ✔ Deer-Resistant ✔ Drought-Tolerant ✔ Evergreen
Plant It With
- Fire Spinner Ice Plant — the hardiest Delosperma and the better in-ground bet.
- Delmara Fuchsia Ice Plant — a vivid companion ice plant for the same hot mat.
- Delmara Pink Ice Plant — soft-pink blooms to round out the planting.
- Autumn Fire Sedum — a tough succulent partner for dry, sunny ground.
Is Jewel of Desert Garnet Right for Your Yard?
Jewel of Desert Garnet is a glowing accent for the hottest, sharpest-drained rock garden, trough, or container. Because it's only marginally hardy in the Twin Cities, it's not a fit for an exposed, heavy, or wet in-ground site — treat it as a container or seasonal jewel unless you can give it perfect drainage and shelter.