170 Species in Genus Delosperma

February 1 – Delosperma
"Delosperma, the ice plant, defines February 1."
Delosperma symbolizes resilience and brilliance. You thrive in challenging conditions, bringing color and vitality to even the harshest environments. Like its bright, daisy-like flowers, your presence lights up the lives of those around you, offering inspiration and warmth.

Delosperma: A World of Hardy Ice Plants

I’ve always been drawn to the resilience of succulents, their ability to thrive in harsh conditions, their fleshy leaves holding onto precious moisture. Among my favorites is the genus Delosperma belong to the Aizoaceae family, commonly known as ice plants. These hardy succulents, with their vibrant, daisy-like flowers, bring a touch of the exotic to any garden.

Native to southern and eastern Africa, Delosperma comprises a diverse group of around 170 species. They are known for their ability to tolerate drought, poor soil, and even freezing temperatures, making them a popular choice for gardeners in a variety of climates.

A Closer Look at Delosperma

The name Delosperma comes from the Greek words “delos” (visible) and “sperma” (seed), referring to the exposed seeds within the fruit capsule. These capsules open when wet, releasing the seeds to be dispersed by water.

Delosperma species are typically low-growing, mat-forming plants with succulent leaves. The leaves are often covered in tiny, glistening bladder cells, giving them an icy appearance, hence the common name “ice plant.” The flowers come in a wide range of colors, including pink, purple, red, orange, yellow, and white. They bloom profusely in the spring and summer, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies.

A Diverse Genus

The genus Delosperma boasts a remarkable diversity of species, each with its own unique characteristics. Here are:

1. Delosperma abbottii van Jaarsv.
2. Delosperma aberdeenense (L.Bolus) L.Bolus
3. Delosperma abyssinicum (Regel) Schwantes
4. Delosperma acocksii L.Bolus
5. Delosperma acuminatum L.Bolus
6. Delosperma adamantinum Niederle
7. Delosperma adelaidense Lavis
8. Delosperma aereum (L.Bolus) L.Bolus
9. Delosperma affine Lavis
10. Delosperma algoense L.Bolus
11. Delosperma aliwalense L.Bolus
12. Delosperma alpinum (N.E.Br.) S.A.Hammer & A.P.Dold
13. Delosperma alticola L.Bolus
14. Delosperma angustifolium L.Bolus
15. Delosperma angustipetalum Lavis
16. Delosperma annulare L.Bolus
17. Delosperma appressum L.Bolus
18. Delosperma ashtonii L.Bolus
19. Delosperma asperulum (Salm-Dyck) L.Bolus
20. Delosperma badspoortense (van Jaarsv.) Klak
21. Delosperma basuticum L.Bolus
22. Delosperma bosserianum Marais
23. Delosperma brevipetalum L.Bolus
24. Delosperma brevisepalum L.Bolus
25. Delosperma britteniae L.Bolus
26. Delosperma brunnthaleri (A.Berger) Schwantes ex H.Jacobsen
27. Delosperma burtoniae L.Bolus
28. Delosperma caespitosum L.Bolus
29. Delosperma calitzdorpense L.Bolus
30. Delosperma calycinum L.Bolus
31. Delosperma carolinense N.E.Br.
32. Delosperma carterae L.Bolus
33. Delosperma clavipes Lavis
34. Delosperma cloeteae Lavis
35. Delosperma concavum L.Bolus
36. Delosperma congestum L.Bolus
37. Delosperma cooperi (Hook.f.) L.Bolus
38. Delosperma crassuloides (Haw.) L.Bolus
39. Delosperma crassum L.Bolus
40. Delosperma cronemeyerianum (A.Berger) H.Jacobsen ex H.E.K.Hartmann
41. Delosperma davyi N.E.Br.
42. Delosperma deilanthoides S.A.Hammer
43. Delosperma deleeuwiae Lavis
44. Delosperma dolomitica van Jaarsv. & A.E.van Wyk
45. Delosperma dunense L.Bolus
46. Delosperma dyeri L.Bolus
47. Delosperma echinatum (Lam.) Schwantes
48. Delosperma ecklonis (Salm-Dyck) Schwantes
49. Delosperma erectum L.Bolus
50. Delosperma esterhuyseniae L.Bolus
51. Delosperma ficksbergense Lavis
52. Delosperma floribundum L.Bolus
53. Delosperma fredericii Lavis
54. Delosperma frutescens L.Bolus
55. Delosperma galpinii L.Bolus
56. Delosperma gautengense H.E.K.Hartmann
57. Delosperma gerstneri L.Bolus
58. Delosperma giffenii Lavis
59. Delosperma gracile L.Bolus
60. Delosperma gracillimum L.Bolus
61. Delosperma gramineum L.Bolus
62. Delosperma grantiae L.Bolus
63. Delosperma gratiae L.Bolus
64. Delosperma guthriei Lavis
65. Delosperma harazianum (Deflers) Poppend. & Ihlenf.
66. Delosperma heidihartmanniae L.E.Newton & Liede
67. Delosperma herbeum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br.
68. Delosperma hirtum (N.E.Br.) Schwantes
69. Delosperma hollandii L.Bolus
70. Delosperma holzbecherorum Niederle
71. Delosperma imbricatum L.Bolus
72. Delosperma inaequale L.Bolus
73. Delosperma incomptum (Haw.) L.Bolus
74. Delosperma inconspicuum L.Bolus
75. Delosperma intonsum L.Bolus
76. Delosperma invalidum (N.E.Br.) H.E.K.Hartmann
77. Delosperma jansei N.E.Br.
78. Delosperma karrooicum L.Bolus
79. Delosperma katbergense L.Bolus
80. Delosperma klinghardtianum (Dinter) Dinter & Schwantes
81. Delosperma knox-daviesii Lavis
82. Delosperma kofleri Lavis
83. Delosperma lavisiae L.Bolus
84. Delosperma laxipetalum L.Bolus
85. Delosperma lebomboense (L.Bolus) Lavis
86. Delosperma leendertziae N.E.Br.
87. Delosperma lehmannii (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Schwantes ex H.Jacobsen
88. Delosperma leightoniae Lavis
89. Delosperma liebenbergii L.Bolus
90. Delosperma lineare L.Bolus
91. Delosperma litorale (Kensit) L.Bolus
92. Delosperma lootsbergense Lavis
93. Delosperma luckhoffii L.Bolus
94. Delosperma luteum L.Bolus
95. Delosperma lydenburgense L.Bolus
96. Delosperma macellum (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br.
97. Delosperma macrostigma L.Bolus
98. Delosperma mahonii (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br.
99. Delosperma mariae L.Bolus
100. Delosperma maxwellii L.Bolus
101. Delosperma melepoense L.E.Newton & Liede
102. Delosperma minimum Lavis
103. Delosperma muirii L.Bolus
104. Delosperma multiflorum L.Bolus
105. Delosperma nakurense (Engl.) Herre
106. Delosperma napiforme (N.E.Br.) Schwantes
107. Delosperma neethlingiae (L.Bolus) Schwantes
108. Delosperma nelii L.Bolus
109. Delosperma nubigenum (Schltr.) L.Bolus
110. Delosperma obtusum L.Bolus
111. Delosperma oehleri (Engl.) Herre
112. Delosperma ornatulum N.E.Br. ex Stapf
113. Delosperma pachyrhizum L.Bolus
114. Delosperma pageanum (L.Bolus) Schwantes
115. Delosperma pallidum L.Bolus
116. Delosperma parentum Niederle
117. Delosperma parviflorum L.Bolus
118. Delosperma patersoniae (L.Bolus) L.Bolus
119. Delosperma peersii Lavis
120. Delosperma peglerae L.Bolus
121. Delosperma pilosulum L.Bolus
122. Delosperma platysepalum L.Bolus
123. Delosperma pondoense L.Bolus
124. Delosperma pontii L.Bolus
125. Delosperma pottsii (L.Bolus) L.Bolus
126. Delosperma prasinum L.Bolus
127. Delosperma purpureum H.E.K.Hartmann
128. Delosperma repens L.Bolus
129. Delosperma reynoldsii Lavis
130. Delosperma rileyi L.Bolus
131. Delosperma robustum L.Bolus
132. Delosperma rogersii (Schönland & A.Berger) L.Bolus
133. Delosperma roseopurpureum Lavis
134. Delosperma saturatum L.Bolus
135. Delosperma sawdahense H.E.K.Hartmann
136. Delosperma saxicola Lavis
137. Delosperma scabripes L.Bolus
138. Delosperma schimperi (Engl.) H.E.K.Hartmann & Niesler
139. Delosperma seanii-hoganii Niederle
140. Delosperma smythae L.Bolus
141. Delosperma sphalmanthoides S.A.Hammer
142. Delosperma stenandrum L.Bolus
143. Delosperma steytlerae L.Bolus
144. Delosperma subclavatum L.Bolus
145. Delosperma subincanum (Haw.) Schwantes
146. Delosperma subpetiolatum L.Bolus
147. Delosperma sulcatum L.Bolus
148. Delosperma sutherlandii (Hook.f.) N.E.Br.
149. Delosperma suttoniae Lavis
150. Delosperma taylorii (N.E.Br.) Schwantes
151. Delosperma testaceum (Haw.) Schwantes
152. Delosperma tradescantioides (A.Berger) L.Bolus
153. Delosperma truteri Lavis
154. Delosperma uitenhagense L.Bolus
155. Delosperma uncinatum L.Bolus
156. Delosperma uniflorum L.Bolus
157. Delosperma vandermerwei L.Bolus
158. Delosperma velutinum L.Bolus
159. Delosperma verecundum L.Bolus
160. Delosperma vernicolor L.Bolus
161. Delosperma versicolor L.Bolus
162. Delosperma vinaceum (L.Bolus) L.Bolus
163. Delosperma virens L.Bolus
164. Delosperma waterbergense L.Bolus
165. Delosperma wethamae L.Bolus
166. Delosperma wilmaniae Lavis
167. Delosperma wiumii Lavis
168. Delosperma zeederbergii L.Bolus
169. Delosperma zoeae L.Bolus
170. Delosperma zoutpansbergense L.Bolus

Cultivating Delosperma

One of the things I appreciate most about Delosperma is its ease of cultivation. These plants are relatively low-maintenance and can thrive in a variety of conditions. Here are a few tips for growing Delosperma:

• Sunlight: Delosperma thrives in full sun, needing at least six hours of direct sunlight per day.
• Soil: Well-drained soil is crucial for Delosperma. They are susceptible to root rot in soggy conditions.
• Water: While drought-tolerant, Delosperma still needs regular watering, especially during hot, dry periods. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
• Fertilizer: Delosperma are light feeders and generally don’t require much fertilizer. A light application of a balanced fertilizer in the spring is usually sufficient.

With proper care, Delosperma will reward you with an abundance of colorful blooms year after year.

The Beauty of Resilience

For me, Delosperma represents the beauty of resilience. These tough little plants can thrive in conditions that would challenge many other species. They remind me that even in the face of adversity, life finds a way to flourish.

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, I highly recommend giving Delosperma a try. These hardy succulents are easy to grow, low-maintenance, and add a touch of vibrant color to any garden.