A low, clumping succulent with soft, grass-like green leaves and slender spikes of small orange or yellow flowers. It blooms through late winter and spring, with scattered flowers after, bringing steady color to small beds, pots and pool areas with little fuss.
Living with it in the Phoenix Valley
Watering
Follow the shrub, groundcover and succulent schedule in our Landscape Care guide. It is thirstier in a Phoenix summer than its succulent leaves suggest, and deep summer watering keeps it full. Cut back in fall and winter, when wet soil invites rot. Good drainage is a must.
Pruning
Snip spent flower stalks to keep it tidy. Trim back only when stems get top-heavy or frost has burned the leaves; new growth fills in by spring.
Heat
The hottest weeks of summer can make it look tired. Light afternoon shade in reflective spots helps, and it freshens up as temperatures cool.
Dividing
Older clumps can build up thatch and thin in the center. Dividing every three to five years refreshes the planting.
How our designers use it
Pool and patio beds
Its soft leaves and long bloom season make it an easy plant near the pool and seating areas.
Massed groundcover
Planted in drifts about 18–24 inches apart, it covers ground in courtyards and along walks.
Color in succulent gardens
Its flowers brighten cactus and rock gardens through the cooler months.
Good to know
Around the pool
With no spines and soft leaves, it is one of the friendliest succulents for pool beds. Spent flower stalks are the main litter, and a quick trim keeps them out of the water.
