Livingstone Daisy White is also known as Ice Plant, Crystallinum Iceplant, Crystalline Iceplant, Common Iceplant, Diamond Ficoides, Sea Fig, Glacier Lettuce, Edible Iceplant. Some of those names it owes to the glistening, transparent blisters on the stems and leaves. This looks like ice crystals. Under these blisters are glands that secrete sodium carbonate (soda). The leaves of this small plant are edible and have a slightly salty taste. Livingstone Daisy is often confused with New Zealand Spinach. But New Zealand Spinach has thick leaves just like Livingstone Daisy, but the leaves of New Zealand Spinach are triangular and the leaves of Livingstone Daisy are less triangular. Livingstone Daisy originates from Southwest Africa, Namibia and the Cape region. Livingstone Daisy grows wild here. Nowadays the plant also grows wild in the Mediterranean, California, Mexico, South Australia and the Canary Islands. It is a small perennial plant that is grown as an annual in our climate (the Netherlands). It does produce very large flowers. The flowers look like they are made of plastic, but that isn't the case. Livingstone Daisy is a member of the Ice plant family (Aizoaceae) just like: Acrodon, Amphibolia, Antimima, Braunsia, Calamophyllum, Delosperma, Dracophilus, Erepsia, Hallianthus, Mossia, New Zealand Spinach, Hottentot Fig, Chewing Gum, Nelia, Peersia, Sesuvium, Stoeberia, Tetragonia and Zeuktophyllum. These are all succulent-like plants that grow in various countries in Africa and other warm areas such as Africa.
Livingstone Daisy can extract moisture from the soil. This makes the Livingstone Daisy a competitor for other plants that quickly experience a shortage of water in the area around the Livingstone Daisy. Livingstone Daisy also adds nitrate to the soil, which mainly hinders grasses in their growth. Livingstone Daisy has a very good salt balance, whereby this plant can also absorb and release salt after decay. Livingstone Daisy is a strongly branched succulent plant that has a creeping growth habit, which makes it very suitable as a ground cover. It can reach a diameter of 1 meter during the growing season. This annual has spatula- to ovate leaves. The flowers are 1 cm wide and in this case white. The flowers only open in sunny weather. The seeds of the Livingstone Daisy are very small and shiny black. Livingstone Daisy can be placed in both a moist and dry location. This plant also thrives in stony soil and even in rock gardens. The leaves of Livingstone Daisy are edible and have a slightly salty and fresh flavour. The leaves can be prepared raw in salads or cooked as a substitute for spinach. The stems of this plant are also edible. If the faded flowers are removed, this long-flowering flower will flower from June till September. This plant can be grown very well in flower pots, flower boxes, balcony boxes and in the border. Also very suitable for the bee and butterfly garden and the overgrown garden. Can also be grown well in rock gardens. This plant can be used well to brighten up bare spots and to cover the ground. Livingstone Daisy is an easy to grow and maintain plant that adds colour to the summer in a cheerful and beautiful way. Give this plant a sunny, sheltered spot with well-drained soil. Can withstand heat and drought very well. The flowers open with sunlight and heat. Only water when the soil is dry. Livingstone Daisy is very popular with bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects. Livingstone Daisy flowers from June till September. Livingstone Daisy loses its leaves in the winter. Semi-hardy annual. Height: 10 cm.
Sow indoors from March in trays filled with well-moistened potting soil. Sow thinly and shallowly. Do not cover the seeds as Ice Plant is a light germinator. As the seeds are very fine, it can be useful to mix the seed with dry sand. The advantage of this is that the seed is easy to distribute and you can see where you have sown. Keep the seed well moistened. Moisten it using a plant sprayer to avoid disturbing and moving the fine seed. The germination temperature must be at least 20 C°, but warmer is better. Keep the germination temperature as even as possible and don't let the temperature drop especially at night. Cover the trays with a lid to keep the moisture in. Keep well warm and light and weed-free.
Once the seed has germinated, the lid can be removed. Once the seedlings are big enough to handle, repot them in separate pots. Allow the young plantlets to harden off outside from the beginning of May. Harden off the plants for 10 - 14 days by putting them outside during the day. After this hardening-off period, the plants can be placed in a sunny, sheltered spot with well-drained soil. Leave 30 - 40 cm space between the plants.
Sow outdoors from mid-May, as soon as there is no more chance of night frost. Sow in a very sunny, warm and sheltered spot with well-drained soil. Mix the seed with sand to make sowing easier. Sow in rows or wide-spaced. Sow thinly and shallowly. Don't cover the seeds, but gently press or rake them into the soil. Keep them well moist and weed-free. When the young seedlings are large enough, thin out to 30 - 40 cm space per plant. Protect the young seedlings well against snails. This easy-to-grow plant copes very well with nutrient-poor, dry soil. The leaves of the Ice Plant are fleshy. The flowers only really open in full sun, which is why the plant is also called Afternoon Flower. Remove spent flowers regularly to ensure that Ice Plant blooms from June till September.
