Delosperma Wheels of Wonder White - Ice Plant

The Delosperma 'Wheels of Wonder White' is the pure white flower variety of the new Wheels of Wonder series, with large flowers featuring a small light yellow centre. This perennial, which thrives in dry soil, blooms from late spring through to summer, sometimes even until the first frost, forming wide carpets covered in snowy stars. This lovely 'ice flower', hardy down to about -10°C (14°F), also thrives among rocks and walls. If necessary, you can bring it indoors during winter by placing it in a hanging basket.

This Delosperma is a variety from Japan, selected at the 2014 Innovert competition at the Salon du Végétal. Delosperma, belonging to the family Aizoaceae and cousins of mesembryanthemums, are perennials native to South Africa, East Africa, and Madagascar, perfectly suited to hot and dry climates. They can be planted among rocks, on paving stones, or on a dry slope, as long as they find a bit of soil. However, if your region experiences frosts close to -10°C (14°F), place it in a pot or a container that you can bring indoors during winter.

This 'Wheels of Wonder White' Purslane is part of a new series of plants that offer flowers twice the size of the typical variety, in a range of 6 vibrant and radiant colours. It has creeping, branched stems that easily take root, spreading out to a width of up to 1m (3ft) under favourable conditions. The plant has light green, cylindrical, succulent leaves. These leaves are stalkless, very fleshy, warty, and measure about 3cm (1in). It forms a small tuft that grows to a height of 10 to 15cm (4 to 6in) and is covered in beautiful flowers grouped in cymes. Each flower has a corolla of delicate white ligules surrounding a yellow heart. The flowering period is long, bringing vibrant colours to neglected areas.

The Delosperma 'Wheels of Wonder White' is a perfect rock garden plant. It pairs well with Sedums, Dianthus, and Wall Bellflowers. However, it also thrives at the base of Stachys and Valerian, with which it shares the same requirements: sun and dry soil. Planting different varieties of the 'Wheels of Wonder' series in containers will create a highly colourful and easy-to-maintain carpet for a long period of time.