Purple ice plant
Delosperma cooperi
Purple ice plant (Delosperma cooperi) is a groundcover suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 2–4 in tall and 12–24 in wide, needs low water, and prefers full sun. Magenta blooms cover the mat all summer. Classic hellstrip and parking-strip groundcover.
low water2–4 in tall and 12–24 in wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant
Photos
At a glance
- Botanical name
- Delosperma cooperi
- Type
- Groundcover
- Mature size
- 2–4 in tall and 12–24 in wide
- Water needs
- low water
- Sun
- full sun
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Soil
- sandy, well drained only
- Soil pH
- 6.5–8.5
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Bloom color
- purple, pink
- Bloom time
- late spring, early summer, mid summer, late summer
- Pollinator value
- moderate
- Good for
- hellstrip, south wall, slope
Planting & establishment
Water deeply 1×/week first summer; minimal after. Wet feet kill it in winter — avoid heavy clay.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Purple ice plant good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes. Purple ice plant is included in the Front Range Plant Finder as a groundcover suited to Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Purple ice plant get?
- It matures to about 2–4 in tall and 12–24 in wide.
- How much water does Purple ice plant need?
- It needs low water once established.
- Is Purple ice plant native to Colorado?
- No — it is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
