Drosanthemum hispidifolium - Hairy Dew Flower Seeds - Indigenous South African Succulent Shrub

Drosanthemum hispidifolium Seeds

Hairy Dew Flower

Mesembs is a common popular term used for succulent members of the family Aizoaceae, which are often placed in a separate family of their own, Mesembryanthemaceae. They are sometimes also referred to as vygies, fig-marigolds, ice plants, midday flowers, living stones or flowering stones. They display remarkable variation in leaf architecture, flower colour and form as well as fruit structure. Therefore these plants fascinate many plant lovers of all ages and have become popular amongst collectors of succulent plants. They make excellent potted plants. Drosanthemum is a genus of succulent plants in the ice plant family native to the winter-rainfall regions of southern Africa. Most species bear colourful flowers. The name Drosanthemum means Dew-flower in Greek, and refers to the characteristic shiny translucent papillae, which cover the succulent leaves and flower buds. There are over 110 species of Drosanthemum found in the arid areas of South Africa and neighbouring Namibia. The Drosanthemum genus is perhaps the most popular and spectacular of all garden mesembs. Few other plants can match the glowing intensity of a stand of these mesembs in full flower. Drosanthemum hispidifolium is a drought tolerant South African indigenous low growing shrub with coarsely hairy leaves and branches. During spring it bears eye-catching white flowers with magenta mid veins. This species is known to flowers mainly after a fire. In the garden this can be stimulated by mulching some ash into the top soil around the plants and watering.