ice plant

American  

noun

1. a plant, Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, native to the Mediterranean region, having fleshy leaves that are covered with glistening vesicles and are sometimes eaten as greens.

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ice plant British  

noun

1. a low-growing plant, Mesembryanthemum (or Cryophytum ) crystallinum, of southern Africa, with fleshy leaves covered with icelike hairs and pink or white rayed flowers: family Aizoaceae

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Etymology

Origin of ice plant

First recorded in 1745–55

Example Sentences

They also had to acquire a permit to put the ice plant on a sidewalk alongside South Royal Brougham Way in order to run the ice pipes in through the concourse and the bullpen.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 21, 2023

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.

From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2023

At the port’s ice plant, he packed shaved ice into balls, and threw them at his friends.

From New York Times • Apr. 2, 2020

That was when Viktor Hovland heaved his drive right at Pebble Beach, down the cliffs and into ice plant.

From Golf Digest • Aug. 19, 2018

The ice plant did not take up much of his time, and he had a clear service record and an honorable discharge him- self.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck