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 repens – Trailing Ice Plant, Trailing Vygie

Delosperma repens is one of the best-known ice plants worldwide and is often sold simply as trailing ice plant. In nature it is native to South Africa, where it grows on rocky slopes and open ground, forming extensive mats of succulent foliage. Its trailing stems can root at the nodes, allowing it to spread and stabilise soil.

The leaves are cylindrical to slightly flattened, juicy green and very tolerant of sun and drought. The flowers are showy, daisy-like blooms in purple, magenta, pink or white, depending on form, usually with a bright central eye. In South African conditions, flowering can be prolific from spring well into autumn, especially if plants receive occasional deep watering.

For South African gardeners, D. repens is a versatile, very tough groundcover for sunny banks, embankments, rockeries and large containers. It’s ideal for waterwise landscaping, erosion control and surrounding stepping stones. Once established, it requires very little care beyond an occasional cut-back if it roams too far, and deep but infrequent watering in long dry spells.