ice plant

noun

: any of various usually succulent herbs (as of the genera Carpobrotus, Delosperma, and Mesembryanthemum) of the carpetweed family used especially as ground covers or for erosion control

Examples of ice plant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Earlier this year, a shipping container financed by the government of Iceland and designed to store fish, make ice and reduce the fishermen’s dependence on the local ice plant, was installed in Goderich. Elian Peltier, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2022 The vivid green grass on the foothills, the pops of fuchsia blossoms in thickets of coastal ice plant, the yellow flowers of black mustard: None of it is native to Southern California. Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2023 The ice plant was built when the borough was booming, at the turn of the last century. Michael Kimmelman, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2023 Flowers to start: Asters, nicotiana, cleome, ice plant, zinnia, salpiglossis, schizanthus, nigella, phlox, nemesia, marigold, nasturtiums achimenes (tuber), brachyscome (15C), dianthus (5), stock (10L), lockspar (20C). Jeff Lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Apr. 2023 More than half of the Reserve is covered with nonnative invasive plants like mustard and ice plant. Los Angeles Times, 2 Feb. 2023 The discovery of the AME Church site on San Pedro Creek, as part of a patchwork of 1800s foundations of a soap factory, ice plant, brewery and other industrial uses, was one of the most significant archaeological finds in recent years in San Antonio. Scott Huddleston, San Antonio Express-News, 25 Feb. 2022 Other common green roof plants include ice plant (Delospermum sp.), hens and chicks (Sempervivum sp.), creeping thyme (Thymus serphyllum), chives and ornamental onions (Allium sp.), phloxes (Phlox sp.), pussytoes (Anntenaria sp.), thrift (Armeria sp.), and false rock cress (Aubretia sp.). oregonlive, 9 Oct. 2021 Flowers to start from seed: Dianthus, larkspur, stock, asters, nicotiana, cleome, annual ice plant, zinnia, salpiglossis, snaps, cosmos, lupine, malva. Tubers and corms: Start tuberous begonias and dahlias. Jeff Lowenfels | Alaska Gardening and Growing, Anchorage Daily News, 30 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ice plant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1753, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ice plant was in 1753

Dictionary Entries Near ice plant

Cite this Entry

“Ice plant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ice%20plant. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.

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