Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Orchid Flash Ice Plant: A Spidery Pink Carpet at Lavender's Feet
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Orchid Flash ice plant is a hardy Delosperma with large, daisy-like flowers in dark lavender-pink. The petals are long and very narrow, which gives the blooms a finer, almost spidery look compared with most ice plants. At peak, the flowers crowd so tightly that the green mat underneath nearly disappears.
The plant itself stays just 2 to 4 inches tall, a fleshy, evergreen carpet that keeps spreading slowly year after year.
Orchid Flash at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Delosperma 'Orchid Flash' |
| Flowers | 1.5 to 2 inches, dark lavender-pink with narrow, glossy petals |
| Foliage | Small, fleshy, bright green, evergreen |
| Size | 2 to 4 inches tall, 20 to 24 inches wide in about two years |
| Bloom | Starts late May, peaks mid-June, scattered flowers afterward |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 6 to 10 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Wildlife | Good for pollinators; moderately deer resistant |
A natural fit with lavender
Few companions match lavender's preferences this closely. Both want hot sun, lean soil and fast drainage, and both shrug off drought once rooted. Orchid Flash spreads as a living mulch around lavender mounds, covering the gravel with green while leaving the lavender crowns open to the air.
The bloom timing is a bonus. It flowers heavily from late May into June, just before most lavender opens, so the bed starts in pink and then hands off to purple. The flowers' pink tone also sits comfortably next to lavender's color rather than fighting it. Lay out the planting in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Site: full sun, including spots with reflected heat from rocks, walls or pavement.
- Soil: lean and very well drained, such as a rock garden, slope, gravel bed or raised bed.
- Water: sparingly, even in the first season. Wet soil is the usual cause of loss.
- Pruning: none needed.
- Flowers: like other ice plants, the blooms close at night and on cloudy days, so do not worry when the carpet looks shut on a gray morning.
Winter in Michigan
Orchid Flash is rated to zone 6, so it is most reliable in the milder zone 6 parts of the state. Wet winter soil, more than cold, is what takes it out. Plant it in gritty soil, a raised bed or a rock garden and never cover it with heavy mulch. Not sure of your zone? Try the USDA Zone Finder.
About the plug tray
It is offered as a full 72-cell plug tray, a practical way to cover a slope, edge a long lavender row or fill a gravel garden. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Is Orchid Flash invasive?
It spreads steadily as a mat but stays low and easy to trim back at the edges.
Can I grow it in a container?
Yes. A shallow pot with a gritty mix and a drainage hole suits it well.
Why are the flowers closed?
Ice plant flowers close at night and in cloudy weather, then open again in sun.
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