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.

---

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

---

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

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.

From New York Times • Dec. 26, 2022

He pushed his drive into the hazard right of the green, his ball coming to rest in ice plant some 40 feet below the putting surface.

From Golf Digest • Aug. 19, 2018

Cushman studies Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, also known as the common ice plant.

From Scientific American • Jul. 13, 2015

Cal asked, “How is the ice plant doing, Father?”

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck