Delosperma

A low-growing subshrub (15 cm high and up to 45 cm in diameter) with almost cylindrical, soft, fleshy, succulent gray-green paired leaves densely covered with papillae. At the base the leaves are barely fused, toward the upper part somewhat flattened, very flexible, with short adventitious shoots in the axils. Numerous silky pink-lilac flowers 4—5 cm in diameter, resembling daisies, are produced at the ends of the shoots.

Without cover it overwinters successfully only in mild winters with good drainage. Regular watering is desirable in hot weather. Location: dry, sunny with sandy, well-drained soils. Propagation by seed. Sow in March-April for seedlings. Seedlings appear within 1-2 weeks at room temperature. Sow on the surface of moist soil and mist with a spray bottle so that the seeds are slightly drawn into the soil. It is useful to keep the sowings in a polyethylene bag to preserve moisture.

Delosperma 'John Proffitt' (zone: 5-8). The cultivar was developed under Colorado's Plant Select program and named in honor of the former director of the Denver Botanic Gardens. It is more vigorous in growth compared to D. cooperi. Flat stems are adorned with fleshy green leaves. Large deep purple flowers appear from late spring. For hot dry locations.

Delosperma 'Kelaidis' (zone: 5-8). A hardy cultivar developed in 1998 at the Denver Botanic Gardens as a mutation of Delosperma cooperi (possibly involving D. nubigenum). Succulent, bean-like leaves are covered from spring with pink-salmon flowers.

D. x 'Mesa Verde' (zone: (4) 5 – 8). A dwarf, alpine form with shimmering salmon-pink flowers, blooms all summer. Has proven to be fairly hardy.

D. x 'Table Mountain' (zone: (4) 5 – 9). A selected form from South Africa, notable for considerable frost hardiness. Blooms with bright fuchsia flowers.

Delosperma congestum

Native - South Africa. Zone 4(6)-9

A small (10 cm high) hardy, frost-resistant species. It blooms from late May with bright yellow, daisy-like flowers. After flowering the plant does not lose its attractiveness, retaining a bright-green, charming mat of succulent foliage. It spreads slowly. The succulent leaves acquire a dark-maroon coloration in autumn. Masses of flowers make the plant almost invisible for many months. Requires well-drained sandy soil and a sunny position.

Delosperma floribundum L. Bolus

Native - South Africa (Smithfield). Grown as an annual in zones 4-9, as a perennial in 9-11

A plant 10 cm high, up to 25 cm in diameter with succulent leaves 2.5 – 5 cm long. Flowers pink, up to 3 cm in diameter, appear in June. Requires a sunny position and moderate watering. Propagation is usually by cuttings and seeds. Seedlings appear within 1-2 weeks at room temperature. Of interest is the cultivar 'Starburst' (see photo), for which some nurseries indicate zone 5-8. It was selected from seeds of plants collected in 1994 by Panayoti Kelaidis. Forms mats of fleshy green leaves. Blooms with lilac-violet flowers with a white eye. D. floribunda 'Starburst' at first glance resembles D. cooperi, but differs by the presence of an eye and more abundant flowering during the summer. For dry, sunny, well-drained sites.

Delosperma nubigenum (Schlechter) L. Bolus = Mesembryanthemum nubigenum

Native - South Africa. Zone: 5-10.

An evergreen, groundcover, succulent subshrub 5-10 cm high with oval to linear leaves 13-18 mm long. In cold weather they acquire a bronze coloration. One of the most frost-hardy species, more resistant than Delosperma cooperi, but with a shorter flowering period. Golden-yellow to orange-red sessile star-shaped flowers up to 3.5 cm wide flash above the green carpet of leaves. Blooms from late spring for 2-4 weeks. Requires a sunny position and moderate watering. In winter good drainage and protection from winter dampness are necessary. Propagated by cuttings and seeds.

Without cover it overwinters successfully only in mild winters with good drainage. Regular watering is desirable in hot weather. Location: dry, sunny with sandy, well-drained soils. Propagation by seed. Sow in March-April for seedlings. Seedlings appear within 1-2 weeks at room temperature. Sow on the surface of moist soil and mist with a spray bottle so that the seeds are slightly drawn into the soil. It is useful to keep the sowings in a polyethylene bag to preserve moisture.

In cultivation since 1737. Widely used garden forms: f. emersonii — stems and leaf petioles red, leaf blades green with yellow veins; f. formosa — leaves red with a bronze tinge. There are varieties with yellow-green leaves and red veins.