Lampranthus aureus is a spectacular subshrub from South Africa that produces stunning carpets of brilliant flowers throughout summer.
The succulent, blue-green leaves appear in pairs and are short and waxy while being cylindrical or triangular in shape.
The satin sheened flowers are produced singly or in clusters on short stalks and are around 60 mm in diameter. They tend to be either bright orange or vibrant yellow and appear from early spring through to autumn and mature to a woody fruit capsule.
The flowers have sometimes been sarcastically called 'Municipal workers' as they open up around 9am and close again at 5pm.
These are plants best suited to Mediterranean climates that have hot, dry summers and wet winters. They do not fare so well in very wet and humid summers.
Ice Plants make excellent additions to dry, steep banks or rockeries where they will make a fabulous display and stabilise loose slopes.
They also go very well in pots and planters including window boxes where they will spill over colourfully.