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 imbricatum

Delosperma imbricatum is another South African species in the genus, listed as Least Concern on SANBI’s Red List. The name “imbricatum” suggests overlapping, tile-like leaves, and indeed it forms tight mats or cushions with closely set succulent leaves that layer over one another, giving a very neat, imbricate appearance.

In flower, the plants produce daisy-like blooms in the warmer months, which sit like little stars on the compact, overlapping foliage. The effect is particularly striking in troughs, pans and rock crevices where the mats can be appreciated at eye level.

For South African gardeners, D. imbricatum is an elegant, finely textured vygie for detail-rich plantings. It’s perfect for crevice gardens, stone troughs and the front of rock beds. Provide full sun, very sharp drainage and modest watering, and it will form tight, weed-suppressing cushions. Seed is the best way to raise numbers; once you have good stock, choice clones can be propagated vegetatively for uniformity in display beds.