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 floribundum – Floribunda Ice Plant, Stock Sheepfig; Skaapvygie

As its name suggests, Delosperma floribundum is renowned for being “floribundus” – freely flowering. It is a mat-forming species used widely in cold-climate rock gardens overseas, but its origins trace back to high-lying regions of southern Africa. Plants form low carpets of succulent leaves that are completely covered in season by masses of daisy-like blooms.

Cultivated forms and hybrids of D. floribundum typically produce bright pink to magenta flowers with lighter centres over a long summer season, creating a carpet of colour in full sun. They are commonly used to spill over rocks, cover banks and fill crevices in retaining walls.

For South African gardeners this species (and its improved forms) offers a tried-and-tested, cold-hardy vygie that performs brilliantly in sunny, well-drained sites. It tolerates frost, summer heat and lean soils, provided drainage is excellent. Seed-grown plants adapt well to local conditions: sow thinly on a sandy mix, keep cool-bright and evenly moist, then harden off to full sun. The result is a reliable, flower-smothered groundcover for waterwise gardens.