Delosperma 'Fire Spinner' is a show stopping ice plant cultivar that produces dazzling tri colored blooms of orange, magenta, and white in late spring. Its succulent foliage forms dense evergreen mats that hug the ground tightly and are dusted with fine hairs, giving the plant a subtle shimmer. The flowers open in full sun and close in shade making it especially responsive to light. It performs well in heat and cold and is noted for its ability to suppress weeds and resist browsing animals.
Height & Spread: 2 - 3 in x 18 - 24 in
Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Preference: Well drained, sandy or gravelly soils
Watering Needs: Low; drought tolerant once established
Deer Resistance: Highly deer resistant
Native Status
This cultivar is derived from species native to South Africa and adapted to dry alpine environments. It is not native to North America.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Butterflies
- Attracts small sun loving butterflies such as Painted Ladies and Gorgone Checkerspots with its bright nectar rich flowers.
Bees
- Visited frequently by honeybees, mining bees, and sweat bees during peak bloom hours.
Moths
- Though diurnal flowering limits moth activity, some day flying moths such as the White Lined Sphinx have been observed visiting open blooms.
Beneficial Insects
- The dense mat of foliage provides shelter for predatory beetles and ground nesting pollinators in dry landscapes.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Space 12 - 18 in apart to allow for spreading coverage and uninterrupted flowering carpets.
Landscape Placement:
- Perfect for rock gardens, alpine troughs, sunny slopes, and waterwise borders. Also excels as edging or a low front layer in containers and raised beds.
Companion Plants
- Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Firewitch' (Cheddar Pinks) - Brings fragrant magenta blooms and compact mounding form to pair with 'Fire Spinner'.
- Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' (Wood Sage) - Provides upright flower spikes in cool violet tones creating contrast with Delosperma’s low habit and warm hues.
- Sempervivum tectorum (Hens and Chicks) - Adds architectural rosettes and thrives under the same low water full sun conditions.
- Thymus serpyllum (Creeping Thyme) - Blends seamlessly with ice plant foliage and attracts pollinators with its tiny flowers.
- Allium schoenoprasum (Chives) - Offers grassy vertical accents and purple flower heads that bloom in coordination with Delosperma.