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 obtusum – Bergvygie, Kransvygie; Mountain Vygie, Mountain Sheepfig

As its name suggests, Delosperma obtusum has somewhat blunt-tipped, fleshy leaves, giving it a soft, rounded look compared with sharper-leaved relatives. It is native to rocky, open habitats in South Africa, where it grows as a low subshrub or mat-forming perennial in well-drained soils.

Plants are especially attractive in bloom, producing generous flushes of daisy-like flowers in bright pink or magenta shades, sometimes with paler centres. These open fully in good light and close in dull or wet weather. The main flowering season is spring and summer, but plants may spot-flower at other times if conditions are favourable.

For South African buyers, D. obtusum is a reliable, colourful groundcover for sunny banks, gravel beds and rockeries. It enjoys full sun, coarse, free-draining soil and modest watering, making it ideal for waterwise gardens and small urban spaces. It also performs well in shallow terracotta bowls, where its rounded leaves and bright blooms can be admired up close.