Delosperma ‘Fire Spinner’ (Ice Plant)

Common Name: Fire Spinner Ice Plant

Scientific Name: Delosperma ‘Fire Spinner’

Plant Family: Aizoaceae

Lifecycle: Evergreen Perennial Succulent

Delosperma ‘Fire Spinner’ is a vibrant, fast-spreading groundcover succulent known for its electric tri-colored blooms—fiery orange tips, neon-pink rings, and a bright white center. Perfectly suited for Mediterranean climates and Zone 8a, this cold-hardy ice plant thrives on heat, rocky soil, and minimal watering. A pollinator magnet and erosion-fighter, it offers year-round texture with a spring and summer floral explosion that feels almost unreal in color saturation. Growing Delosperma ‘Fire Spinner’ in Zone 8a is an excellent choice for off-grid gardeners seeking resilience with visual punch.

For in-depth guides and curated tools, be sure to check out our Recommended Books & Resources below.

Plant Profile

Characteristic	Information
Climate Suitability	USDA Zones 5–10; Köppen Csa/Csb
Sun / Shade Needs	Full sun (6–10 hours/day)
Watering Needs	Low; drought-tolerant once established
Soil Preferences	Sandy, rocky, sharply drained soils; pH 6.0–7.5
Spacing & Height	30–45 cm spacing; 5–10 cm height
Propagation Method(s)	Division, stem cuttings
Planting Timeline	Spring or early autumn in Zone 8a
Companion Plants	Sedum, thyme, lavender, ornamental grasses
Edible / Medicinal / Ecological Uses	Pollinator plant, erosion control, living mulch
Pest / Disease Considerations	Rot in poorly drained soils; mealybugs occasionally
Pruning / Harvest Notes	Light trimming after bloom flush; remove winter-damaged sections

Quick Plant Reference

• Care Level: Easy

• Optimal Sunlight: Full sun

• Water Needs: Low once established

• Mature Size: 5–10 cm (2–4 in) tall, 30–45 cm (12–18 in) spread

• Soil Type: Gritty, sandy, sharply drained

• Humidity: Low

• Toxicity: Non-toxic to humans and pets

• Beneficial Pollinators: Bees, hoverflies, small solitary bees

• Health Benefits: None traditionally, but supports pollinator health

• Chilling Hours: Not applicable

• Pollination Requirements: Self-sufficient; no special needs

Our Delosperma ‘Fire Spinner’ Application @ Tough Kraut

MuDan picked up our Delosperma ‘Fire Spinner’ at a weekly regional market this year, and it has quickly become a porch favorite. After repotting it into a larger container with a gritty, cactus-style mix, it settled in beautifully—producing tight mats of foliage and setting buds early. We haven’t planted it out on the land yet, but its performance in the pot has given us confidence that it will thrive in our sun-baked terraces, rock edges, and gravel pockets once we’re ready to expand it across the property. Propagation experiments are next on our list!

Step-by-Step Growing Guide

Note: If your Fire Spinner seems slow to establish, droops after rain, or shows winter burn, check the troubleshooting section later in the post.

1. Choose the Right Site

Pick the sunniest, driest microclimate you have. South-facing slopes, rock walls, and gravelly berms are ideal. Avoid shade—flowering drops dramatically without full sun.

2. Prepare the Soil

Use a sharply drained mix: sand, gravel, pumice, and minimal organic material. Heavy soil is the number-one cause of rot with Delosperma.

3. Plant the Plant

Plant in spring or early autumn. Set crowns slightly above soil grade to prevent water pooling around the base.

4. Water Consistently

Water lightly during the first few weeks, then switch to a “tough love” schedule: deep watering every 10–14 days in drought, none in winter.

5. Ensure Proper Pollination

Bees handle everything. Fire Spinner blooms attract small pollinators by the hundreds.

6. Prune Annually

After spring bloom, trim back any leggy mats or frost-damaged growth. A light haircut encourages denser foliage.

7. Manage Pests and Diseases

Root rot is the primary threat. Elevate plantings, use gravel mulch, and avoid over-watering. Mealybugs sometimes appear in pots—treat with neem or alcohol swabs.

8. Harvest and Store

Not a harvest crop, but you can collect cuttings easily. Allow stem sections to heal 24 hours before sticking into dry, gritty medium.

9. Note

If your plant looks stressed after a wet winter, resist the urge to water more—Delosperma often rebounds once temperatures warm and soils dry.

Kraut Crew Insight

Our Fire Spinner reminded us that even the smallest plants teach resilience. It thrived the moment we stopped pampering it—lean soil, blazing sun, and minimal water did the trick. Once we take cuttings, expect to see this fiery mat tucked between our granite stones and sunny slopes.

Photos

November 27, 2025

November 27, 2025

November 27, 2025

November 27, 2025

Herman’s Tough Kraut Field Notes: Solving Fire Spinner Cultivation Challenges

Growing Delosperma ‘Fire Spinner’ may seem foolproof, but the plant has quirks. Our troubleshooting insights and quick FAQ help you dodge common pitfalls—especially issues with drainage, winter survival, and sudden midsummer wilt.

Here are the most frequent questions and field-tested fixes:

Q: My Fire Spinner turned mushy after heavy rain. What happened?

A: Classic root rot. Elevate your planting, add 50–70% grit, or plant in a raised stone pocket. Avoid watering again until fully dry.

Q: Why is blooming sparse?

A: Usually too much shade or too much nitrogen. Move it to maximum sun and avoid rich compost.

Q: Can I propagate it easily?

A: Yes—almost effortlessly. Snip 3–5 cm tips, let them callus overnight, and root them in pure pumice or coarse sand.

Q: My plant looks dead in winter. Is it gone?

A: Probably not. Fire Spinner can look rough in damp winters but bounces back with heat. Trim the mushy bits in spring.

Q: How do I prevent mealybugs in containers?

A: Increase airflow, reduce watering, and treat with neem or a quick alcohol-on-cotton-swab dab on colonies.

Recommended Books & Resources

Books

• Succulents Simplified: Growing, Designing, and Crafting with 100 Easy-Care Varieties by Debra Lee Baldwin

  A friendly, photo-rich introduction to succulents that walks readers through care, design, and container ideas. Perfect for anyone who just discovered Delosperma ‘Fire Spinner’ and wants to build out a wider low-water succulent collection on the porch or terrace, much like we’re doing at Tough Kraut.

• The Plant Lover’s Guide to Sedums by Brent Horvath

  While sedums are the stars here, the book is essentially a masterclass in carpet-forming, drought-tolerant groundcovers. Readers will pick up design patterns, spacing ideas, and soil strategies that translate directly to growing Delosperma ‘Fire Spinner’ as living mulch in dry Mediterranean beds.

• Drought-Resistant Planting: Lessons from Beth Chatto’s Gravel Garden by Beth Chatto

  A classic case study in turning poor, dry soil into a thriving, beautiful landscape. This is ideal for Tough Kraut readers who want to understand how Fire Spinner and other rock-garden plants fit into long-term, low-input, gravel-style plantings in Zone 8a.

• Designing with Succulents by Debra Lee Baldwin

  Focuses on composition, color, and structure when combining succulents in pots and in the landscape. Great for readers dreaming of Fire Spinner spilling over granite edges, mixing with agaves, sedums, and other sun-loving companions in a Mediterranean garden.

Resources

• Stainless Steel Garden Soil Sieve with Interchangeable Mesh Screens

  This simple tool lets you sort local sand, gravel, and compost by particle size to create the perfect gritty mix for Delosperma and other rock-garden plants. Once people try it, they rarely go back to “whatever’s in the bag” for their drought-tolerant plantings.

• Bonsai-Style Pot Drainage Mesh Pads

  Thin mesh discs that sit over the drainage holes inside pots, preventing soil loss while keeping drainage wide open. They’re standard in bonsai culture but almost unknown to most home gardeners, and they’re incredibly useful for keeping Fire Spinner’s gritty mix from washing away every time you water.

• Tough Kraut Resources

  Our curated tools, soil mixes, and homestead gear selection to help you establish resilient, low-water perennial plantings across your land.

Entry last updated: 2025-11-27

This post is part of the Tough Kraut Plant Library, documenting what really grows on our off-grid homestead in Central Portugal.