170 Species in Genus Delosperma

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, 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.

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