Plants in the Ruschia genus are among the most striking, versatile and diverse of all succulents in the Mesembryanthemaceae family. The genus name Ruschia, was named in honour of a Namibian farmer by the name of Ernst Julius Rusch (1867-1957). The monotypic genus Ruschianthus was named to commemorate his son Ernst Franz Theodor Rusch (1897-1964). Ruschia is the largest genus in the mesemb family with about 216 species.

Ruschia densiflora is a South African endemic succulent from the Western Cape Province where it can be found from Lambert’s Bay to Clanwilliam. It forms an eye-catching rounded shrub with purple to pink flowers.