Rocky Point Ice Plant. Malephora lutea.	Rocky Point Ice Plant. Malephora lutea.

Rocky Point Ice Plant. Malephora lutea, Fig - Marigold or Ice Plant Family ( Aizoaceae ), Rocky Point Ice Plant. We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the information on this page. We share images and information with Wikipedia. Malephora lutea are creeping, with distinct internodes from which roots may arise. Leaf pairs are slightly fused at the base. Leaves are smooth-textured, bluish green, fleshy (succulent), soft and usually covered with a thick, waxy bloom that is easily rubbed off. Their showy flowers are golden yellow and occur singly. Ice plant belongs to the genus, Malephora, which consists of a dozen of species from South Africa. It was planted along coastlines in the US and other countries to hold the sand onto the beaches. They need a lot of sun, but in very hot climates like Phoenix, in summer, they will need shade and regular watering for a part of the day in order to survive the summer. Quick Notes: Height: Height about 8 inches. Spreading about 2 - 4 feet. Flowers: About 1 inch yellow. Flowering Time: Mid March - April. Then occasionally during the late summer. Leaves: Evergreen, usually green, blue-green and fleshy. Opposite and slightly united basally, semi-hemispherical to cylindrical, smooth 1.5" long. Found: Collected from a yard in Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco), Sonora, Mexico. Ice Plant is native to South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. We see it throughout lower elevations in Arizona as a landscape plant. Hardiness: USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 �C (20 �F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 �C (25 �F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 �C (30 �F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 �C (35 �F) USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 �C (40 �F) Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) 7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline) Sun Exposure: Full Sun. Partial shade. Elevation: 0 to 2,900 feet In Arizona. In its native habitats, it is usually between 1,800 to 2,300 feet. Habitat: Well-drained, sandy, poor to moderately fertile soils. A Xeriscape Landscape plant. Miscellaneous: Photos Taken; September 19, 2006. Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Near Superior, Arizona. An ideal xeriscape landscape plant at low elevations in Arizona.