If you love vygies and waterwise gardening, Delosperma is one of those genera that quickly becomes addictive. These are mostly low, mat-forming succulents in the Aizoaceae, famous for their shimmering “ice” cells on the leaves and stems that catch the light like tiny crystals – a clever way of reflecting harsh African sun while storing precious moisture.

The genus is centred in southern Africa, with the bulk of species in South Africa and Lesotho, but stretching north into eastern Africa as far as Ethiopia and even into the Arabian Peninsula. Many are local endemics tied to specific rock types or mountain systems – from arid Karoo flats and grassland dolerite outcrops to subalpine Drakensberg cliffs. Seed capsules are typically hygrochastic: they open when wet, using little “valves” and wings to present or flick out the seed in rain – exactly the kind of detail that makes them fascinating subjects for a seed-focused collector.

In the garden, Delosperma species are valued for their carpets of daisy-like flowers in intense shades of magenta, pink, purple, yellow and orange, often over a very long season. Given full sun and sharply drained, sandy or gravelly soils, many species are remarkably drought tolerant and need little more than occasional watering once established. They are ideal for rockeries, retaining walls, containers, green roofs and banks where a tough, colourful, pollinator-friendly groundcover is needed.

For a succulent enthusiast in South Africa, Delosperma offers a huge palette of local biodiversity – from tiny, niche endemics to showy garden workhorses – all fitting neatly into the broader push toward waterwise, climate-resilient gardening.

Delosperma hollandii – Albany Sheepfig

Delosperma hollandii, the Albany Sheepfig, is a succulent subshrub endemic to the south-eastern Cape, historically recorded between Uitenhage and Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha). It is now considered possibly extinct in the wild due to extensive habitat loss from urban and industrial expansion, and is assessed as Critically Endangered.

Plants form low, branching subshrubs with succulent leaves and daisy-like flowers typical of the genus. In gardens and collections, it behaves as a tough, sun-loving vygie when given well-drained soil and modest watering. Because of its conservation status, any cultivated material should be treated as highly valuable.

For South African buyers, D. hollandii offers a rare opportunity to grow and help safeguard a species that may no longer exist in nature. It is ideal for dedicated indigenous beds, Albany Thicket or fynbos-style rockeries and carefully managed succulent collections. Grow from seed using your standard Delosperma method, and emphasise to customers that by cultivating Albany Sheepfig, they are helping preserve a small piece of Eastern Cape natural heritage.