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 maxima, synonymously known as Astridia maxima or Mesembryanthemum maximum, is a South African endemic succulent from the Western Cape Province. Ruschia marianae, synonymously known as Mesembryanthemum marianae is a South African endemic succulent from the Northern Cape and Western Cape Provinces. It makes a good rockery subject. Most Ruschia species have flowers in the pink to purple range, or sometimes white. An exception is the red-flowered Ruschia marianae, from near Clanwilliam. The attractive red of the petals is often set off by a band of white around the central cone of stamens, though some plants may have flowers which are all red. The flower diameter is listed as up to 4 cm. Spring time is the main flowering period for Ruschia marianae. Ruschia marianae has trailing stems, but these do not spread widely, and over time it tends to mound and form a small shrublet. It has chubby 3-sided finger-like leaves which are grey-green to bluish-green in colour and up to 10cm in length.