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 brevisepalum (Delosperma brevisepalum var. majus)

Delosperma brevisepalum is a compact Eastern Cape vygie, occurring mainly on rocky slopes in the Sneeuberg and surrounding Karoo transition zones. It forms low cushions of succulent foliage that tuck neatly into cracks and gravel, perfectly adapted to the tough summer sun and cold, clear winter nights of the interior. Like many Delospermas, it bears bright, daisy-like flowers in late spring and summer, lighting up dry slopes when much of the veld is already tired.

In the garden this species is ideal for Eastern Cape-style rockeries, gravel gardens and waterwise borders where a tough, reliable groundcover is needed. The tight, clumping growth means it won’t swamp neighbours, and it knits beautifully between boulders, stepping stones and retaining walls. Given a warm, sunny spot and sharply drained soil, plants quickly settle and reward you with a carpet of shining blooms that glisten in the sun.

For South African growers this is an excellent choice for inland gardens from the Karoo to the Highveld. It shrugs off heat, wind and light frost once established, needing only occasional deep watering in the hottest months. From seed it is straightforward: sow finely on the surface of a gritty mix, keep just moist and in bright light, and you will soon have a batch of hardy little Delosperma plugs ready to plant into their forever rock crevices.