Mesa Verde ice plant
Delosperma 'Kelaidis'
Mesa Verde ice plant (Delosperma 'Kelaidis') is a groundcover suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 1–3 in tall and 12–18 in wide, needs low water, and prefers full sun. Salmon-pink blooms over silvery foliage. Plant Select introduction from DBG.
low water1–3 in tall and 12–18 in wideXeric / water-wisePlant Select®Zones 1–3 (can be planted near the house)Deer-resistant
Photos
- Photo 1: (c) Drepanostoma, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 2: (c) Eleftherios Katsillis, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 3: (c) Petr Harant, some rights reserved (CC BY)
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5–10
- Water needs
- low water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Soil
- sandy, well drained only
- Soil pH
- 6.5–8.5
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Firewise (defensible space)
- Zones 1–3 (can be planted near the house)
- Site uses
- Hellstrips / parking strips, Hot south- or west-facing walls
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 1–3 in tall and 12–18 in wide
- Growth habit
- Mat-forming
- Planting spacing
- ~13–18 in apart
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- late spring, early summer, mid summer
- Bloom color
- pink
- Bloom length
- Long (several weeks)
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Winter cover
- Strong winter cover
What it will do to your yard
- Foot traffic
- Light foot traffic
- Lawn alternative
- No-mow lawn alternative
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- moderate
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
- Colorado native
- No
Using Mesa Verde ice plant as a groundcover
Mesa Verde ice plant forms a low mat. It fills in densely, crowding out most weeds. It takes light foot traffic, fine to step across occasionally, but not a play-lawn. It holds strong cover through Front Range winters, so the ground doesn't go bare.
Planting & establishment
Drainage is critical, wet roots kill it. Water weekly first summer; minimal after.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Mesa Verde ice plant good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Mesa Verde ice plant is a well-suited groundcover for Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Mesa Verde ice plant get?
- It matures to about 1–3 in tall and 12–18 in wide.
- How far apart do I plant Mesa Verde ice plant?
- Space Mesa Verde ice plant about 13 in apart for a faster, fuller cover, or up to 18 in apart for a looser planting.
- Is Mesa Verde ice plant hardy on the Front Range?
- Mesa Verde ice plant is hardy in USDA 5–10. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is at its cold edge here. Site it in a warm microclimate and protect young plants.
- How much water does Mesa Verde ice plant need?
- It needs low water once established.
- Is Mesa Verde ice plant native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Mesa Verde ice plant deer-resistant?
- Mesa Verde ice plant is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
- Is Mesa Verde ice plant a good firewise plant near the house?
- Mesa Verde ice plant is a lower-fuel choice suitable in defensible-space zones 1–3, it can be planted near the house when kept well irrigated and maintained. This is general suitability guidance based on CSU Extension firewise plant lists, not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Follow CSU Extension defensible-space guidance and check with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
- Is Mesa Verde ice plant a Plant Select® winner?
- Yes (inducted 2002). Mesa Verde ice plant is in Plant Select®, the plant-recommendation program run by Colorado State University and Denver Botanic Gardens to highlight plants that thrive in the region.
- Can you walk on Mesa Verde ice plant?
- Mesa Verde ice plant takes light foot traffic. You can step across it occasionally, but it won't hold up as a play-lawn.
- Can Mesa Verde ice plant replace a lawn?
- Yes, Mesa Verde ice plant works as a no-mow lawn alternative on the Front Range. Expect a season or two of weeding and watering while it fills in before it reads as a lawn replacement.
- Will Mesa Verde ice plant spread or stay put?
- Mesa Verde ice plant is mat-forming. Give it room to fill in and edit the edges to keep it where you want it.
- Does Mesa Verde ice plant stay green in winter?
- Mesa Verde ice plant holds strong cover through Front Range winters, so the ground stays protected rather than going bare.
- How long does Mesa Verde ice plant bloom?
- Mesa Verde ice plant blooms for several weeks, a long-season performer on the Front Range. Bloom timing shifts a week or two with elevation and spring weather.
