Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Pink Radiance Ice Plant: A Succulent Carpet Under Lavender
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Pink Radiance ice plant is a hardy succulent that hugs the ground in a mat just 2 to 4 inches tall. Its small, fleshy, finger-shaped leaves glisten bright green, and in late spring the mat disappears under large daisy-like flowers in light pink that deepen to a rosy purple ring around a small pale center.
It loves heat, gravel and neglect, which makes it one of the few groundcovers that can live right at the feet of your lavender without causing trouble.
Pink Radiance at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Delosperma 'Pink Radiance' |
| Flowers | Daisy-like, 1.5 to 2 inches across, light pink with a rosy purple center |
| Foliage | Bright green, fleshy, evergreen |
| Size | 2 to 4 inches tall, about 20 to 24 inches wide in two years, then keeps spreading |
| Bloom | Starts late May, peaks mid-June, scattered flowers afterward |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 6 to 10, with excellent drainage |
| Light | Full sun |
| Deer | Moderately resistant |
The living mulch idea
Lavender hates organic mulch piled around its crown because it holds moisture. Gravel is better, and Pink Radiance is the next step: a living, evergreen carpet that shades the soil without staying soggy. It blooms just before lavender opens, so the bed gets a pink floor first and purple spikes on top a few weeks later.
Plant it at the front of the bed and around the outer edge of lavender mounds, not tight against the woody base. Give it a few feet to roam, since it spreads about 2 feet in two years and keeps going. Sketch it out in the Companion Plant Planner.
A note for Michigan gardeners
Pink Radiance is rated to zone 6, so in Michigan it is most reliable in zone 6 areas, and only with very sharp drainage. Wet winter soil, more than cold, is what usually takes it out. Check your zone with the USDA Zone Finder before you plan a big planting. Wherever you garden, gravel, raised beds and rock gardens give it the best odds.
Easy care, as long as it stays dry
- Soil: lean and gravelly. Slopes, walls, rock gardens and raised beds are ideal.
- Water: sparingly. It is very drought tolerant once established, and overwatering causes rot.
- Heat: it thrives on reflected heat from rocks and pavement.
- Winter: keep mulch and fallen leaves off the crowns.
- Pruning: none needed.
One quirk: like other ice plants, the flowers close at night and in cloudy weather. They are not sulking. They will open again with the sun.
About the plug tray
Pink Radiance is offered as a 72-cell plug tray, a good fit for covering a slope or edging a long bed. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Does it need to be cut back in fall?
No. The succulent leaves stay evergreen, so leave the mat alone and simply clear fallen leaves off it.
Can I cut the flowers?
They do not last as cut flowers. Enjoy them on the plant.
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