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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Aizoaceae (Ice Plants) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: White |
| Bloomtime: Spring/Fall |
| Synonyms: [Mesembryanthemum tradescantioides] |
| Height: <1 foot |
| Width: Spreading |
| Exposure: Light Shade/Part Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Delosperma tradescantioides (Kei Delosperma) A fairly rapid summer growing groundcover plant with fibrous roots that forms a low solid mat and trails down over walls or from hanging baskets on long rounded stems that are reddish when young and age to gray and hold the nearly flat succulent nearly stalkless inch long ovate-lanceolate leaves. The individual half inch wide white flowers with narrow petals can appear in late winter through fall and while not extremely showy, they stand out well against the solid mats of leaves - according to the South African National Biodiversity Institute this white flowered form is actually the least common in South Africa where magenta and yellow flowering forms are also found. Plant in full sun to shade (best color in part sun to shade) in a well drained soil and irrigate regularly to infrequently - in nature it is a summer grower but has thrived in our winter rainfall climate. It is listed as best in near frost free locations but has not been harmed by short duration temperatures down to 25°F. This is a great groundcover that forms solid mats. It reminds one of a well maintain white flowered Aptenia cordifolia, but remains much lower, constrained and does not seed about. Besides making a good groundcover out in the open or in rock gardens, this cliff dweller is attractive in hanging baskets, large containers and wall gardens. This plant is endemic to the Kei River area in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, where it is typically found as a cliff-hanger growing along shaded gorges, growing as a solid cover on broad ledges and drooping over them, trailing down vertically for 3 feet. The name for the genus comes from the Greek words 'delos' meaning "visible" and 'sperma' meaning seed in reference to the way the seed fruiting capsules are exposed and not covered by a membrane. The specific epithet was given to the it because of a superficial likeness to spiderworts in the genus Tradescantia. In South Africa this plant is commonly called Keivygie. Delosperma tradescantioides was first described as Mesembryanthemum tradescantioides by the German botanist Alwin Berger in 1910 but transferred to the genus Delosperma by Louisa Bolus in 1937. We first saw this plant growing as a solid groundcover in the Desert Garden at the Huntington Botanic Garden and our plants all came from cuttings given to us in September 2012 from this planting.
This information about Delosperma tradescantioides displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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