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 zeederbergii – Spekboom River Sheepfig

Delosperma zeederbergii is a rocky outcrop specialist, named after the Zeederberg area, and it is particularly associated with stony slopes and cliff faces. It forms neat mats or clumps of succulent leaves that cling to shallow, mineral-rich soils.

In flower, plants are dotted with daisy-like blooms, usually in pink or purple tones, which show up vividly against rock. Flowering is largely in spring and early summer and responds strongly to good rains or irrigation.

In South African gardens, D. zeederbergii is a superb rock garden and wall crevice species, especially for collectors who enjoy growing regional endemics. It needs full sun, gritty soil and careful watering, and will thrive in raised beds, crevice gardens and stone troughs that mimic its natural rocky haunts.