Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Razzle Dazzle Ice Plant: A Bright Carpet at Lavender's Feet
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Razzle Dazzle ice plant is a hardy Delosperma that stays only 2 to 4 inches tall and spreads into a glistening green mat. In late spring the mat practically disappears under daisy-like flowers that shift from raspberry red at the tips to a fuchsia purple eye around a small cream center. It is the kind of color that makes neighbors slow down.
Razzle Dazzle at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Delosperma 'Razzle Dazzle' |
| Flowers | Raspberry red tips, fuchsia purple eye, cream center; 1.5 to 2 inches |
| Foliage | Bright green, fleshy and evergreen |
| Size | 2 to 4 inches tall, spreading 20 to 24 inches in about two years |
| Bloom | Late May into June, peaking mid-June, with scattered flowers after |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 6 to 10 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Best uses | Rock gardens, slopes, edging, containers |
Why it suits a lavender planting
Ice plant wants exactly what lavender wants: hot sun, reflected heat from rocks or pavement, lean soil and very little water. That makes it one of the few groundcovers that can live right at the base of lavender without competing for moisture. Let it run along the front edge of a gravel-mulched lavender bed or spill over a low wall below a row of lavender.
The bloom timing is a bonus. Razzle Dazzle peaks in mid-June, just before most lavender opens, so the bed has color a few weeks earlier. The rest of the year, the evergreen mat keeps the ground green beneath the silver lavender. Map out the edges in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Soil: lean and gravelly. Rock gardens, slopes, raised beds and gravel beds are ideal.
- Water: enough to establish young plugs, then sparingly. Overwatering causes crown and root rot.
- Mulch: use gravel, not bark, and keep it off the crowns.
- Pruning: none needed. It stays evergreen and keeps widening slowly.
- Flowers: like other ice plants, they close at night and on cloudy days, so plant it where you will see it on sunny afternoons.
Getting it through winter
Razzle Dazzle is rated to zone 6, so in Michigan it is most reliable in zone 6 areas and needs very sharp drainage. Cold is less of a threat than wet soil sitting around the roots through winter and early spring. A slope, a raised bed or a rock garden gives it the best odds. Look up your zone with the USDA Zone Finder before you plant.
Frequently asked questions
Why are the flowers closed?
Ice plant flowers close at night and in cloudy weather, then open again in sun. Nothing is wrong with the plant.
Can I grow it in a pot?
Yes. A shallow container of gritty mix on a sunny patio suits it well, and it is easy to keep dry over winter that way.
How is it offered?
As a full 72-cell plug tray, handy for covering a slope or edging a long bed. See the product page for current availability.
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