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 versicolor – Variable Sheepfig

Delosperma versicolor is famous in horticulture for its multi-coloured flowers, which can display rings or a gradient of colours from the centre to the petal tips. It forms low mats of succulent foliage and is native to rocky, sun-baked habitats.

The flowers are typically bicoloured, with pale centres grading into stronger pink, magenta or orange at the tips, creating a “two-tone” effect. Flowering is often very heavy in spring and early summer, with plants sometimes almost smothered in blooms.

For South African gardeners, D. versicolor is a spectacular groundcover for sunny slopes, rock gardens and gravel beds. It is tough, drought tolerant and visually very striking. It pairs beautifully with solid-coloured vygies and grey stones, and thrives in full sun with gritty, low-fertility soil and modest watering.