Mesembs is a common popular term used for succulent members of the family Aizoaceae, which are often placed in a separate family of their own, Mesembryanthemaceae. They are sometimes also referred to as vygies, fig-marigolds, ice plants, midday flowers, living stones or flowering stones. They display remarkable variation in leaf architecture, flower colour and form as well as fruit structure. Therefore these plants fascinate many plant lovers of all ages and have become popular amongst collectors of succulent plants. They make excellent potted plants. Drosanthemum is a genus of succulent plants in the ice plant family native to the winter-rainfall regions of southern Africa. Most species bear colourful flowers. The name Drosanthemum means Dew-flower in Greek, and refers to the characteristic shiny translucent papillae, which cover the succulent leaves and flower buds. There are over 110 species of Drosanthemum found in the arid areas of South Africa and neighbouring Namibia. The Drosanthemum genus is perhaps the most popular and spectacular of all garden mesembs. Few other plants can match the glowing intensity of a stand of these mesembs in full flower.

Drosanthemum bicolor is a very colourful low-growing shrublet that grows to about 60 cm. The natural distribution is in the Western Cape, in the Worcester-Robertson Karoo and the Little Karoo. People from these areas refer to these plants as ‘municipal workers’ as their flowers open at around 9 a.m. and close around 5 p.m. The Drosanthemum species are perhaps the most popular and spectacular of all garden mesembs. Few other plants can match the glowing intensity of a stand of these mesembs in full flower. They are fast-growing with small succulent leaves, and the scarlet, yellow or orange flowers bloom in spring to summer.