If you love vygies and waterwise gardening, Delosperma is one of those genera that quickly becomes addictive. These are mostly low, mat-forming succulents in the Aizoaceae, famous for their shimmering “ice” cells on the leaves and stems that catch the light like tiny crystals – a clever way of reflecting harsh African sun while storing precious moisture.

The genus is centred in southern Africa, with the bulk of species in South Africa and Lesotho, but stretching north into eastern Africa as far as Ethiopia and even into the Arabian Peninsula. Many are local endemics tied to specific rock types or mountain systems – from arid Karoo flats and grassland dolerite outcrops to subalpine Drakensberg cliffs. Seed capsules are typically hygrochastic: they open when wet, using little “valves” and wings to present or flick out the seed in rain – exactly the kind of detail that makes them fascinating subjects for a seed-focused collector.

In the garden, Delosperma species are valued for their carpets of daisy-like flowers in intense shades of magenta, pink, purple, yellow and orange, often over a very long season. Given full sun and sharply drained, sandy or gravelly soils, many species are remarkably drought tolerant and need little more than occasional watering once established. They are ideal for rockeries, retaining walls, containers, green roofs and banks where a tough, colourful, pollinator-friendly groundcover is needed.

For a succulent enthusiast in South Africa, Delosperma offers a huge palette of local biodiversity – from tiny, niche endemics to showy garden workhorses – all fitting neatly into the broader push toward waterwise, climate-resilient gardening.

Delosperma annulare – Annular Ice Plant, Ring Ice Plant

Delosperma annulare, the Annular or “ring” ice plant, is a succulent subshrub native to Mpumalanga and the northern provinces of South Africa, where it grows in subtropical grassland and rocky slopes. Like many congeners, it forms low clumps or mats of fleshy stems with opposite leaves adapted to periodic drought and intense summer heat.

Although detailed morphological descriptions are limited in easily accessible sources, D. annulare follows the classic Delosperma formula of daisy-like flowers with multiple slender petals around a central disc. In habitat, flowering is likely concentrated in late spring and summer, responding to seasonal rain. The species’ name hints at ring-like features, probably in the fruiting structures, which adds to its botanical interest for collectors.

For South African gardeners, D. annulare is best used as a hardy, grassland vygie suited to sunny, freely draining positions in warm summer-rainfall regions. Use it in naturalised grassland borders, rocky banks and mixed succulent beds, where it can knit between stones and protect the soil. Its northern Mpumalanga provenance makes it an appealing choice for gardeners and landscapers wanting to reflect Lowveld and escarpment flora.