Use & Care NotesCompanion Plants
Electric Slide Ice Plant: Fuchsia Carpet for Hot, Dry Spots
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Electric Slide ice plant covers itself in glossy, daisy-like flowers in bright fuchsia pink, each with a small pale center and remarkably even in color and shape across the whole plant. Underneath is a flat, evergreen mat of small, fleshy green leaves just 2 to 4 inches tall that spreads about 2 feet in two years and keeps going. From late May into June, you can barely see the leaves.
Electric Slide at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Delosperma 'Electric Slide' |
| Flowers | Bright fuchsia pink, 1.5 to 2 inches across |
| Foliage | Bright green, succulent, evergreen |
| Size | 2 to 4 inches tall, 20 to 24 inches wide and spreading |
| Bloom | Starts late May, peaks mid-June, scattered later flowers |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 6 to 10 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Deer | Moderately resistant |
Pink and purple at ground level
Fuchsia pink and lavender purple are close cousins, so Electric Slide blends with a lavender planting rather than shouting over it. Use it to carpet the gravel between lavender mounds, soften the front edge of a raised bed or spill over a sunny retaining wall. It peaks in mid-June, just before most lavender opens, so the bed goes from a pink carpet to a pink-and-purple layer as the lavender comes in.
The shared needs make it easy: full sun, reflected heat, lean soil and very little water. Leave a few inches between the mat and each lavender crown so air can move around the lavender's base. Map the bed in the Companion Plant Planner.
Winter in Michigan
Electric Slide is rated to zone 6. In Michigan it is most dependable in zone 6 areas and in sites with very sharp drainage. Cold is rarely what kills an ice plant; sitting in wet soil over winter is. Raised beds, gravel gardens, rock gardens and slopes give it the best chance. Confirm your zone with the USDA Zone Finder.
Care
- Water: sparingly, letting the soil dry thoroughly between drinks.
- Mulch: gravel only, kept off the crowns.
- Pruning: none needed; it stays evergreen and keeps spreading slowly.
- Problems: crown and root rot from wet soil is nearly the only issue.
The flowers close at night and on cloudy days, which is normal ice plant behavior. They reopen with the sun. In containers, use a shallow pot with gritty mix. It is offered as a full 72-cell plug tray; see the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
How is it different from Dancing Embers?
Same low succulent mat and timing. Electric Slide has bright fuchsia flowers; Dancing Embers is reddish orange.
Is it good for cut flowers?
No. It is a groundcover to enjoy in place.
Will it control erosion on a slope?
Its spreading mat suits sunny slopes well, as long as the soil drains freely.
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