Delosperma
Now, I am the kind of gardener who easily becomes obsessed with certain plant families. One such family is the Aizoaceae. This group of succulent plants has over 100 different species and is common in eastern and southern Africa. I personally have about 15 different varieties of Aizoaceae, including my favourite – Delosperma. Another great thing about this species is that it is extremely easy to propagate from cuttings. You’ll be filling your garden with Delospermas and swapping them with neighbours in no time!
Delosperma, in my mind is the one of the easiest, hardiest and stunning of the Aizoaceae household. It is unique, versatile and highly colourful! The fleshy, drought tolerant creeping stems of these hardy ‘Ice Plants’ make ideal ground cover on sunny banks and poor stony soils. The showy daisy-like flowers of Delosperma create a carpet of intense colour. Fantastic for those hot, dry problem areas where many other plants would fail to establish.
Delosperma will grow to a height of about 10cm (4″) and a spread of 60cm (24″).
Sowing Delosperma seeds
Sow from March to April, in pots or trays of moist seed compost. Sprinkle a fine layer of compost over the seeds and place in a bright and warm position at a temperature of 18-21C. Germination take between 10-20 days.
Pot up Delosperma plants in sharply drained, gritty compost and grow them on in frost free conditions. When they are well grown and all risk of frost has passed, acclimatise them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before transplanting into their final positions. Delosperma thrives in poor sandy, sharply drained soil, in a sunny, sheltered position. Add plenty of sharp grit to the soil prior to planting in order to improve drainage and prevent the roots from rotting. Delosperma requires little maintenance. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings and feed every 3 weeks whilst in active growth.