One of the most colorful plants that you will ever find in the world of succulents is a delosperma. The variety of these plants is generally found in the flowers rather than in leaf shape or in growth type.
It can easily be said that most, if not all, delosperma grow the same way. They all form large mats of thick foliage with bright hats of flowers. Some are going to have different flower shapes, while the vast majority of differences are found in how different species have been crossed to form different patterns in the flowers.
Are you looking to buy some delosperma to brighten up your collection? Check out Mountain Crest Gardens here.
Jump to:
- 1. Delosperma cooperi
- 2. Delosperma dyeri - Red Mountain
- 3. Delosperma Fire Spinner
- 4. Kelaidis
- 5. Delosperma echinatum
- 6. Delosperma nubigenum
- 7. LAVENDER ICE
- 8. RED MOUNTAIN Flame
- 9. Delosperma congestum
- 10. Delosperma Jewel of the Desert Collection
- 11. Delosperma Hotcakes Collection
- 12. Delosperma Wheels of Wonder Collection
1. Delosperma cooperi
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| Primary Color: | Violet |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 3 inches |
| Spread: | 2 feet |
| Blooming Season: | SP, SU |
| Hardiness: | Zones 6-10 |
Otherwise known as the Trailing Ice Plant, this is the plant that started it all. The petals are not as compact as Wheels of Wonder, and neither are they as spaced apart as the Jewel of the Desert petals. In the words of Goldilocks, their petals are just right!
2. Delosperma dyeri - Red Mountain
| Primary Color: | Red |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 2-4 inches |
| Spread: | 1-2 feet |
| Blooming Season: | SP, SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zones 5-9 |
The flowers of this species are generally a deeper red with the potential for dark purple bands around the creamy white center. At times, the flowers can take on a more orange hue, but the dark purple banding helps identify this species.
3. Delosperma Fire Spinner
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| Primary Color: | Red/Orange/Pink |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 2-3 inches |
| Spread: | 1-2 feet |
| Blooming Season: | SP, SU |
| Hardiness: | Zone 6 and up |
One of the most beautiful tri-color species, Firespinner is ever attractive with petals that reach upward. The color starts with white at the base, fades to a light pink, transitions to deep red, and ends in highlighter orange. If you want something striking, then this is the way to go.
4. Kelaidis
| Primary Color: | Pink |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 3-6 inches |
| Spread: | 1-2 feet |
| Blooming Season: | SP, SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zones 4-8 |
Also known as Delosperma cooperi ‘Mesa Verde’, the coloration of this species is no less spectacular. The petals reach up and out in a similar manner to daisies, but the petals are much more thin and spaced apart. The light pink and slightly spiky petals don’t transition to white, making this species one of the few delosperma without a white center.
5. Delosperma echinatum
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| Primary Color: | Yellow |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 8 inches |
| Spread: | 1-2 feet |
| Blooming Season: | Summer |
| Hardiness: | Zone 10 and up |
One that I continually see and always want is the gorgeous pickle plant! It’s an interesting delosperma that falls underneath the mesemb group since it very clearly resembles a pickle … just with longer spines. The flowers of this ice plant are a little more compact than the average delosperma, and they are used more for their leaf texture than a concentration of flowers.
6. Delosperma nubigenum
| Primary Color: | Yellow |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 2-3 inches |
| Spread: | Up to 2 feet |
| Blooming Season: | SP, SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zones 6-8 |
Perhaps the most daisy-like in the way the petals curl, the hardy yellow ice plant is a great addition to any garden. Like Kelaidis, it is a species that doesn’t have any color transitions and remains a solid golden yellow. Unlike other species, though, the center of the flower is more orange than the traditional yellow.
7. LAVENDER ICE
| Primary Color: | Lavender |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 2-4 inches |
| Spread: | 1-2 feet |
| Blooming Season: | SP, SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zones 4-9 |
LAVENDER ICE (and yes, it is capitalized even on its patent!) is one of the few delospermas where we see a balanced daisy-like appearance with an inverted color transition. Generally, white is seen towards the inside of the flower; however, LAVENDER ICE keeps it cool with gentle lavender centers and bright white edges.
8. RED MOUNTAIN Flame
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| Primary Color: | Red |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 3-4 inches |
| Spread: | 2-3 feet |
| Blooming Season: | SP, SU |
| Hardiness: | Zone 6 and up |
If you want to talk about intense, then look no further than RED MOUNTAIN. Not only are there bands of color, but unlike other delospermas, there are also additional veins of color too! The center of the flower has a bright, hot-pink color that fades to solid red, which then transitions to orange. Along the orange, you’ll find veins of red that make the flowers look like they are crackling with heat.
9. Delosperma congestum
What sets D. congestum Gold Nugget and White Nugget apart from other delosperma is the slightly overlapping petals. Rather than compact and narrow or slightly spread apart and thicker, these two variants most closely resemble the shape and colors of wild daisies.
Gold Nugget
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| Primary Color: | Yellow |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 1-2 inches |
| Spread: | Up to one foot |
| Blooming Season: | SP, SU |
| Hardiness: | Zones 6-9 |
Delosperma Gold Nugget is a completely yellow species with a hint of white at the base of the petals.
White Nugget
| Primary Color: | White |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 1-2 inches |
| Spread: | Up to one foot |
| Blooming Season: | SP, SU |
| Hardiness: | Zones 6-9 |
Delosperma White Nugget is completely white except for the pollen that collects at the center of the flower.
10. Delosperma Jewel of the Desert Collection
The Jewel of the Desert Collection is distinct thanks to how the leaves slightly reach upward before curling backward. It's this curl that allows just the right reflection to hit the shining colors of each variant which is what makes each flower look like a desert gem. The petals are also thicker and can overlap in rows of two.
Topaz
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| Primary Color: | Gold/White |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 4-6 inches |
| Spread: | 8-10 inches |
| Blooming Season: | SP, SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zone 5 and up |
Out of all of the collections, this variant comes closest to having golden petals. The gold is a solid terminal band around beautiful white centers.
Ruby
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| Primary Color: | Rust Red/White |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 4-6 inches |
| Spread: | 8-10 inches |
| Blooming Season: | SP, SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zone 5 and up |
While not a true ruby red, this is another tri-color variant. The terminal rusty purple red fades to a small band of yellow before fading to a stark white.
Rosequartz
| Primary Color: | Light Pink |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 4-6 inches |
| Spread: | 8-10 inches |
| Blooming Season: | SP, SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zone 5 and up |
These beauties play a few tricks on the eyes. They have two-toned flowers with the center of the traditional white. However, the terminal appears to be a light rose at one point and, at others, a very light lavender.
Peridot
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| Primary Color: | Yellow/White |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 4-6 inches |
| Spread: | 8-10 inches |
| Blooming Season: | SP, SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zone 5 and up |
At first, I thought this species was going to have green flowers. Despite the disappointment, this Jewel of the Desert has two very clear bands of terminal yellow and white at the base,
Opal
| Primary Color: | Fuschia |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 4-6 inches |
| Spread: | 8-10 inches |
| Blooming Season: | SP, SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zone 5 and up |
Delosperma Opal tends to break the mold of overlapping petals. There are two rows of brightly colored fuschia petals that lay one atop the other, with the top layer growing shorter than the outer layer.
Moonstone
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| Primary Color: | White |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 4-6 inches |
| Spread: | 8-10 inches |
| Blooming Season: | SP, SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zone 5 and up |
Delosperma Moonstone is interesting because, at first, it looks as though the flower is completely white. However, when you look closer, the inner band of ‘white’ is actually more of a light yellow-green!
Grenade
| Primary Color: | Orange/Pink |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 4-6 inches |
| Spread: | 8-10 inches |
| Blooming Season: | SP, SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zone 5 and up |
Delosperma Grenade looks very similar to Firestorm and some of the other fire-labeled variants. The outer edge is an intense red-orange, while the centers are more lavender-pink.
Garnet
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| Primary Color: | Red/Pink |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 4-6 inches |
| Spread: | 8-10 inches |
| Blooming Season: | SP, SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zone 5 and up |
Whereas Delosperma Grenade has more intense red coloration, Delosperma Garnet has a more muted red that fades to an intense Barbie pink.
Amethyst
| Primary Color: | Fuchsia/White |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 4-6 inches |
| Spread: | 8-10 inches |
| Blooming Season: | SP, SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zone 5 and up |
Delosperma Amethyst is an interesting character. The centers are hotel sheets white, while the terminal ends are an intense fuchsia.
11. Delosperma Hotcakes Collection
Hotcakes are fun to add to any collection. Not only are they some of the most intensely colored, but they also have a distinct bowl-like growing pattern to how the petals reach from the base of the flower. Most variants in this collection are also going to have petals that are thicker than other variants, and the petals do not overlap.
Tangerine Tango
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| Primary Color: | Burnt Orange/White |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 6-8 inches |
| Spread: | Up to one foot |
| Blooming Season: | SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zone 6 and up |
While Delosperma Tangerine Tango isn’t necessarily the color of tangerines, it is one of the most orange-colored delosperma variants. The terminal edges are burnt orange, while the centers fade to white. Bands are not clearly delineated in this variant
Saucy Strawberry
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| Primary Color: | Red/Hot Pink/White |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 6-8 inches |
| Spread: | Up to one foot |
| Blooming Season: | SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zone 6 and up |
If you haven’t already fallen in love with the name of this sexy little number, then the colors will surely get you. From a red like Jessica Rabbit’s dress to hot pink to the tiniest bit of white, these flowers will constantly stun!
Pumpkin Perfection
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| Primary Color: | Orange-red/White |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 6-8 inches |
| Spread: | Up to one foot |
| Blooming Season: | SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zone 6 and up |
Pumpkin Perfection Delosperma is the perfect fall plant. If you have ever had the chance to see a perfectly ripe pumpkin, then that is what the terminal color of this flower looks like. The centers can fade from yellow to white; however, not all flowers will show this type of color transition.
Fig Fusion
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| Primary Color: | Violet/White |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 6-8 inches |
| Spread: | Up to one foot |
| Blooming Season: | SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zone 6 and up |
Not quite fuchsia and not quite violet, Delosperma Fig Fusion is another variant where the bands of color are not strict. There is a fade from the deep lavender-pink to white centers that makes this variant absolutely delectable!
Coconut Crush
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| Primary Color: | White |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 6-8 inches |
| Spread: | Up to one foot |
| Blooming Season: | SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zone 6 and up |
Unlike the stark whites that are so often found in delosperma, Coconut Crush has a slightly creamier, if not butter-tinged, white that absolutely covers the green foliage underneath.
Banana Blast
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| Primary Color: | Yellow/White |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 6-8 inches |
| Spread: | Up to one foot |
| Blooming Season: | SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zone 6 and up |
Do you like bananas? Is yellow your favorite color? Then you will want to grab Delosperma Banana Blast as soon as you can. The almost highlighter yellow of the terminal ends of the petals fades to a lovely and crisp white in the center.
12. Delosperma Wheels of Wonder Collection
Wheels of Wonder all have a beautiful circular shape to how the petals form, and the petals are also evenly spaced when not damaged. They tend to turn upwards at the base before flattening out, which is what makes them look like tiny little wheels.
White Wonder
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| Primary Color: | White |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 4-6 inches |
| Spread: | 1-2 feet |
| Blooming Season: | SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zone 6 and up |
This wheelie beauty is prominently white; however, the center of the flower takes on a buttery color at the center.
Violet Wonder
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| Primary Color: | Lavender/white |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 4-6 inches |
| Spread: | 1-2 feet |
| Blooming Season: | SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zone 6 and up |
Each petal can be slightly different in the Wheels of Wonder collection, and Violet Wonder is a great demonstration of that. The terminal ends stay an intense violet while they fade to a stark white at varying rates towards the center.
Hot Pink Wonder
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| Primary Color: | Yellow/Hot Pink/Orange |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 4-6 inches |
| Spread: | 1-2 feet |
| Blooming Season: | SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zone 6 and up |
In my humble opinion, Delosperma Hot Pink Wonder is one of the hardest to look at in direct sunlight, thanks to the intensity of the colors. The edges are a violet hot pink that fades to a true hot pink before fading to an intense Amarillo yellow in the center.
Golden Wonder
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| Primary Color: | Yellow |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 4-6 inches |
| Spread: | 1-2 feet |
| Blooming Season: | SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zone 6 and up |
Delosperma Golden Wonder is one of the perfect example specimens for the Wheels of Wonder collection. The petals perfectly reach out flat like a while, and they are entirely yellow except for the barest hint of white at the base.
Fire Wonder
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| Primary Color: | Red-orange/yellow |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 4-6 inches |
| Spread: | 1-2 feet |
| Blooming Season: | SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zone 6 and up |
Here with the Delosperma Fire Wonder, we see again the more burnished red with hints of orange that makes the fire types of delosperma so distinct. The red fades into a sunflower yellow center while maintaining the same wheel shape.
Salmony Pink Wonder
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| Primary Color: | Light pink/Orange/Yellow |
| Sun Needs: | Full Sun |
| Water Needs: | Water when dry |
| Height: | 4-6 inches |
| Spread: | 1-2 feet |
| Blooming Season: | SU, FA |
| Hardiness: | Zone 6 and up |
The last in this beautiful collection is none other than the Delosperma Salmony Pink Wonder. The surprising thing here is that there is only one difference between Salmony and Hot Pink, and that is the terminal color! Instead of hot pink, salmony pink has a beautiful blushing pink at the end of each petal.