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Trichodiadema mirabile (White Vygie) - A small low growing succulent subshrub with a woody branching light brown stems holding 1/2-inch long glaucus green cylindrical leaves that are tipped with small bristles that dry to look a bit like a brown spine. From mid-spring through summer appear the 1-inch-wide white flowers which some claim are sweetly fragrant (haven't been able to smell this scent ourselves!).
Plant in full sun in soil in a well-drained soil and give little irrigation. Cold hardy to around 25 °F. Makes a great ground cover that can look like a white carpet when in full bloom in spring. It is native to the southern Great Karoo in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is less commonly grown than its purple flowering cousin common Trichodiadema bulbosum, which is often grown in a container with its large succulent roots exposed and commonly called the African Bonsai. The name for the genus comes from Greek 'trix' meaning "hair" and 'diadema' meaning "crown" in reference to the bristle hairs that top each leaf and the specific epithet is the Latin word meaning "wonderful" or " miraculous", presumably for how the plant looks when in full bloom. Our thanks to John Bleck for allowing us to take cuttings from his yard of this charming little mesymb.
The information about Trichodiadema mirabile that is displayed on this web page is based on research conducted in our nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We will also include observations made about this plant as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens that we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We also incorporate comments that we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they share cultural information that aids others growing this plant.
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