Delosperma - Stardust
Here is one of my personal favourites. I have been collecting Delosperma and other close relatives of this unusual plant for some time now. It is incredibly easy to propagate from seed and cuttings and requires little attention. Perfect for a dry border, rockery or even a hanging basket!
Dwarf, shiny, deep green, metallic-looking thick succulent foliage bursts into flower from mid May until September/October. Plants are smothered with spectacular lilac-purple flowers with intriguing white centres. Delosperma is loved by butterflies and other nectar feeding insects.
When/how to sow Delosperma seeds
Sowing time from March to April. Sow seed in pots or trays of moist seed compost, do not cover seed. Place in a propagator or warm place, and keep at a temperature of between 18-21C (65-70F). After sowing, do not exclude light as this helps germination. Keep the surface of the compost moist but not waterlogged; germination will usually take 10-21 days. When large enough to handle, transplant seedlings into 7.5cm (3in) pots or trays.
Gradually acclimatise young plants to outdoor conditions for a few weeks before planting out after all risk of frost, 23-30cm (9-12in) apart. For best results, provide a light, well-drained soil in full sun.
Are Delosperma plants hardy?
No. Before the autumn frosts, lift the plants, pot them up and over winter indoors on a well-lit windowsill or frost-free greenhouse. Keep the compost just barely moist until spring, when they can be planted out again.
You can buy Delosperma floribunda Stardust Seeds from Thompson and Morgan.
I have Delosperma planted in a small flower border at my allotment in Edinburgh. Thankfully i gave it plenty of room when i planted it last spring as it spread quite happily and produced loads of flowers.
I left it in the ground over winter without any protection and really didn’t think it would survive after the harshest winter we’ve had up hear in years but, it hasn’t died off and is currently producing loads of new growth.
I have to admit, the Delosperma often surprises me. It is fairly tough; although a hard frost will kill off a lot of growth, it will quite often just about pull through. One other thing about this plant that I like – as with many succulents, it’s very easy to propagate from cuttings. Infact, I always just cut off mature stems and just stick them in the ground where I want them to grow. Unless there is 0% water in the soil for a long period of time, the cuttings will take. I recently planted loads of cuttings in a hanging basket – looks great and requires less watering than most displays! To encourage your Delosperma to flower profusely, feed with a good multipurpose fertiliser during the warmer seasons.