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 concavum

Delosperma concavum is a perennial succulent of the Aizoaceae, native to high-lying parts of Lesotho and adjoining areas of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. It inhabits rocky grassland and mountain slopes, enduring intense summer sun, strong winds and winter frost. This species forms small clumps or mats of succulent leaves, and in the warmer months produces a scattering of bright, daisy-like flowers that stand out against the short mountain turf.

In cultivation D. concavum is particularly suited to cool, high-rainfall South African gardens where drainage is good but summers are not excessively hot. It performs well in raised rock beds, stone troughs and shallow pans where its clumps can be admired at close range. Combined with small grasses and alpine bulbs, it helps create an authentic Lesotho-style alpine scene in the garden.

From seed, this mountain vygie prefers a cool, bright sowing position and a gritty, well-aerated medium. Keep lightly moist until the seedlings are up, then allow more drying between waterings to harden them off. Once planted out in full sun and free-draining soil, Delosperma concavum will reward you with a resilient, cold-tolerant carpet that captures the spirit of our high-lying escarpment flora.