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 mahonia – (synonym Mesembryanthemum mahonii)

Delosperma mahonii is a widespread yet still somewhat overlooked species occurring in Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe, where it is native to rocky slopes and sandy soils in mopane woodland, grassland and various bushveld types.

SANBI assesses it as Least Concern, suggesting that it is more often overlooked than genuinely rare, despite habitat loss in parts of Gauteng.

This is a straggling, succulent perennial up to about 25 cm high, with opposite, subcylindrical leaves that are grooved on the upper surface and finely papillose, giving them a subtly textured, fresh-green look. The flowers are borne in small forked clusters, each bloom around 25 mm across, with pinkish-purple petals and a sweet scent – a very charming combination in a water-wise vygie.

For South African gardeners, Delosperma mahonii offers a more “bushveld” take on the ice plant concept. It is well suited to rock gardens and mixed succulent beds in summer rainfall regions, and should be very comfortable anywhere with hot summers, cool to mild winters and good drainage. In cultivation it appreciates full sun, gravelly or sandy soil, and occasional deep watering during the growing season, with a much drier regime in winter. The scented pink-purple flowers make it a good candidate for planting close to paths and seating areas where it can be enjoyed up close.