Southern CA is basically desert. I am on the polar opposite of your view. Are you from Southern CA? Ice plant is great landscaping, prevents erosion, tolerates low water conditions – which is why it’s used for landscaping, as I understand it. Since the State of CA is essentially broke, more of these
low water type plants – like ice plant – should be utilized for landscaping.

There is a project at Cuyamaca College that educates on various grass types and plants for Southern CA landscaping w/ lowest possible water use. I have visited it and it’s very educational:
http://www.thegarden.org/

Be kind to the bees – we need all the pollinaters we can get.