Drosanthemum speciosum - Orange ice-plant Seeds- Indigenous South African Endemic Succulent Shrub

Drosanthemum speciosum Seeds

Worcester-Robertson Vygie, Orange ice-plant, Berg Vygie

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 speciosum Orange is a South African endemic species from the Western Cape Province. Brilliant, vibrant, stunning, barely describe this vygie, which is one of the plants that makes the Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden in Worcester famous for its spring display. Drosanthemum speciosum is a very colourful low-growing shrub that grows to about 60cm. The natural distribution is Worcester-Robertson Karoo and the Little Karoo. People from these areas refer to these plants as 'municipal workers' as their flowers open at around 9 a.m. and close around 5 p.m. They are fast-growing with small succulent leaves, and the flowers bloom from spring to summer. Click here to see other colours available.