STARBURST™ ice plant
Delosperma floribundum
STARBURST™ ice plant (Delosperma floribundum) is a groundcover suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 2 to 4 in tall and 12 to 18 in wide, needs low water, and prefers full sun. Pink daisies with white centers, late spring through summer; succulent foliage.
Plant Select®low water2 to 4 in tall and 12 to 18 in wideXeric / water-wiseLow ignitability: OK 0-30 ft from the house, CSU score 10/10
Photos
- Photo 1: (c) Mahomed Desai, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 2: stephen boisvert from Chicago, United States, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY)
- Photo 3: Photo by David J. Stang, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA)
- Photo 4: stephen boisvert from Chicago, United States, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY)
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5 to 10
- Water needs
- low water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Soil
- sandy, well drained only
- Soil pH
- 6.5 to 8.0
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Site uses
- Hot south- or west-facing walls, Slopes & erosion control, Hellstrips / parking strips
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 2 to 4 in tall and 12 to 18 in wide
- Growth habit
- Mat-forming
- Planting spacing
- ~13 to 18 in apart
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- mid spring, mid summer
- Bloom color
- pink
- Bloom length
- Long (several weeks)
- Foliage
- Evergreen
What it will do to your yard
- Foot traffic
- No foot traffic
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Not rated
- Colorado native
- No
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Low ignitability: OK 0-30 ft from the house, CSU score 10/10
Using STARBURST™ ice plant as a groundcover
STARBURST™ ice plant forms a low mat. It fills in densely, crowding out most weeds. On a slope it helps knit the soil together and control erosion.
Planting & establishment
Needs sharp drainage; rots in wet clay.
Frequently asked questions
- Is STARBURST™ ice plant good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, STARBURST™ ice plant is a well-suited groundcover for Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does STARBURST™ ice plant get?
- It matures to about 2 to 4 in tall and 12 to 18 in wide.
- How far apart do I plant STARBURST™ ice plant?
- Space STARBURST™ ice plant about 13 in apart for a faster, fuller cover, or up to 18 in apart for a looser planting.
- Is STARBURST™ ice plant hardy on the Front Range?
- STARBURST™ ice plant is hardy in USDA 5 to 10. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b to 6a, so it is at its cold edge here. Site it in a warm microclimate and protect young plants.
- How much water does STARBURST™ ice plant need?
- It needs low water once established.
- Is STARBURST™ ice plant native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is STARBURST™ ice plant a good firewise plant near the house?
- STARBURST™ ice plant is rated 10 of 10 in CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), where higher means less ignitable, so it can go within 0 to 5 feet of the house as well as out to 30 feet when kept watered and tidy. This is general guidance based on CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Follow CSU Extension defensible-space guidance and check with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
- Can you walk on STARBURST™ ice plant?
- STARBURST™ ice plant isn't meant for foot traffic, site it where you won't need to walk across it.
- Will STARBURST™ ice plant spread or stay put?
- STARBURST™ ice plant is mat-forming. Give it room to fill in and edit the edges to keep it where you want it.
- Is STARBURST™ ice plant good for a slope?
- Yes. STARBURST™ ice plant helps hold soil on Front Range slopes and control erosion once its roots knit in.
- How long does STARBURST™ ice plant bloom?
- STARBURST™ ice plant blooms for several weeks, a long-season performer on the Front Range. Bloom timing shifts a week or two with elevation and spring weather.
