Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Hearts & flowers
Hearts and Flowers is a trailing succulent with small, heart-shaped green leaves and purplish-red flowers from spring into fall. It is one of the most planted ice plants in Phoenix because it stays tough and clean looking. It trails about 3 feet, so it works on retaining walls, in hanging baskets and in planters. Give it full sun in winter and some shade from the western sun in summer.
Best for: retaining walls and hanging baskets, planters and pots, and ground cover spots with some protection from the afternoon sun.
Its stems trail about 3 feet, so it drapes over retaining walls and spills out of hanging baskets. It keeps a clean look most of the year.
It fills planters and pots with small heart-shaped leaves. Use a fast-draining mix so the roots never sit wet.
Small purplish-red flowers open from spring into fall, and bees and butterflies visit them. The flowers open in daylight and close at night.
It does not take frost well, so cover it on cold nights. In summer the western sun is too much for it, so plant it where it gets shade in the afternoon.
- Ground cover bed2-3 ft apart
- Quick fill1 ft apart
Young ground cover plants have shallow roots and can need water every 2 or 3 days for the first 2 to 4 weeks. After that, stretch the time between waterings as the plants root in.
Once it is rooted, water every 5 to 10 days in hot, dry weather and every 3 to 6 weeks in winter if rain is short. Let the soil drain well between waterings.
Give it full sun in winter but partial shade in summer, with protection from the western sun. Water it regularly when the weather is extremely hot.
It does not take frost well, and ratings run from about 23°F to 30°F. Cover it with frost cloth on cold nights, and take the cover off in the morning.
Ground cover beds in the low desert often thin out within 2 to 4 years. Replant bare spots in fall or early spring, and keep people from walking on the bed.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does hearts and flowers get?
It stays about 3 to 10 inches tall and trails 2 to 3 feet, so it stays low while it spreads.
When does it bloom?
It blooms from spring into fall with small purplish-red flowers.
Does it need shade in Phoenix?
Yes, in summer. Give it full sun in winter and partial shade in summer, and shade from the western sun matters most.
How often should I water it?
Water it regularly when the weather is extremely hot, and let the soil drain between waterings.
Is it frost hardy?
It is rated to about 23°F, and it does not take frost well. Cover it with frost cloth on cold nights, and take the cover off in the morning.
Can I grow it in a hanging basket?
Yes. It grows well in hanging baskets and on retaining walls, where its stems trail over the edge.
How do I keep it in bounds?
Head it back now and then to control its spread. Cuttings root easily in the cool season.
How far apart should I plant it?
Plant it about 2 to 3 feet apart for a ground cover, or about 1 foot apart if you want it to fill in quickly.
Is hearts and flowers good for slopes?
Yes. It is planted as a ground cover on banks and slopes, where its trailing stems cover the soil. Plant it about 2 to 3 feet apart and let it fill in.
Does it attract bees?
Yes. The flowers open in daylight and close at night, and bees visit them. Plant it in a sunny bed where you can watch them.
Hearts & flowers for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Hearts and Flowers is a tough, trailing succulent with heart-shaped leaves and small red flowers from spring to fall. It is one of the most planted ice plants in Phoenix. Below are answers to the questions Valley homeowners ask about sun, water, frost and spacing.
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Does hearts and flowers grow well in Phoenix?
Yes. It is one of the most planted ice plants in Phoenix. Give it partial shade in summer and full sun in winter.
Can hearts and flowers trail over a wall?
Yes. Its stems trail about 3 feet, so it drapes over retaining walls and spills out of hanging baskets.
How far apart do you plant hearts and flowers?
Space plants about 2 to 3 feet apart for a ground cover. For a quicker fill, plant them about 1 foot apart.
When does hearts and flowers bloom?
Small purplish-red flowers open from spring into fall, and bees visit them.
How often do you water hearts and flowers?
Give it moderate water, and water regularly in extreme heat. Let the soil drain between waterings.
Is hearts and flowers frost hardy?
It is rated to about 23°F, but it does not take frost well. Cover it with frost cloth on cold nights, and take the cover off in the morning.
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