Showing posts with label Delosperma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Delosperma. Show all posts

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Cactus in the snow

The Danish winter has been warm and damp this year with almost no snow nor frost. All this changed last week. A couple of days after the vernal equinox Denmark was hit by a cold spell with lots of snow and temperatures down to -10 C (14 F). This weather only lasted a few days - the pictures below were taken when it all started.

Cactus in the snow
Cactus in the snow

The above photo shows a Cylindropuntia viridiflora (Pojoaque, New Mexico) with a ground cover of Delosperma 'John Proffit'. In the back, at the right, grows a Opuntia tortispina (DJF 1139; west Albuquerque, New Mexico) and, at the left and in the center, a couple of Yucca plants.

Cactus bed being covered in snow
Cactus bed being covered in snow

The last photo shows the full bed as it starts to be covered in snow. The front part of the bed was established last summer so the plants in this part of the bed are still rather small.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Black slugs feasting on Delosperma

The gastropods thrived during the wet weather spell that haunted Denmark a couple of weeks ago – especially black slugs (Arion ater) were abundant in my area. The slugs seem to have a preference for the turgid, succulent leaves of Delosperma nubigenum (Sani Pass, 2900m, Lesotho), grazing off large parts of the plant.

Two black slugs feasting on Delosperma
Two black slugs feasting on Delosperma

I don’t know if the slugs don’t find the Delosperma nubigenum flowers palatable or if the attention of the leftmost slug was otherwise diverted.

A close escape - the flower survives
A close escape - the flower survives

Anyway, the flower escaped being eaten and I removed the slugs from the plant just after taking the above pictures.

Fortunately the weather has dried up considerably, forcing the slugs and snails into hiding.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Delosperma – early flowers, take 3

Delosperma 'John Proffit' is flowering as the last of my Delosperma plants, displaying a wealth of attractive purple flowers with bright white centers.

Delosperma 'John Proffit', close-up
Delosperma 'John Proffit', close-up

Delosperma 'John Proffit' is a vigorous, almost aggressive, grower. The plant has taken over a good part of one of my cactus beds, leaving a Cylindropuntia viridiflora stranded in a sea of purple flowers.

Sprawling Delosperma 'John Proffit'
Sprawling Delosperma 'John Proffit'

For an illustration of the prolific growth you can compare the above plant with the same plant 10 months ago.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Delosperma – early flowers, take 2

As mentioned in the previous post my Delosperma plants are currently flowering. The latest addition to the flower feast is Delosperma nubigenum (Sani Pass, 2900m, Lesotho) boasting buttery yellow flowers.

Delosperma nubigenum (Sani Pass, Lesotho), close-up
Delosperma nubigenum (Sani Pass, Lesotho), close-up

The plant is forming a compact mat and has – like my other Delosperma plants – grown considerably in the year I’ve had it.

Delosperma nubigenum (Sani Pass, Lesotho)
Delosperma nubigenum (Sani Pass, Lesotho)

Last week the Delosperma sp. (Sani Pass, Lesotho) plant was completely hidden by flowers; most of these have withered and the plant is now visible again.

Delosperma sp. (Sani Pass, Lesotho)
Delosperma sp. (Sani Pass, Lesotho)

Since last week the Delosperma sp. (Drakensberg) plant has unfolded all its flower buds and now forms a carpet of purple flowers.

Delosperma sp. (Drakensberg)
Delosperma sp. (Drakensberg)

Now I’m just waiting for my Delosperma 'John Proffit' to flower.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Delosperma – early flowers

As mentioned in a previous post I’m a Delosperma novice and consequently hadn’t expected the plants to be flowering this early, but two of the species I’m growing flowered abundantly this weekend (I’m not sure if it’s a coincidence or a pattern but my other two species flowered very late last autumn).

Delosperma sp. (Sani Pass, Lesotho), close-up
Delosperma sp. (Sani Pass, Lesotho), close-up

The Delosperma sp. (Sani Pass, Lesotho) plant is completely hidden by flowers – I’m curious if it can keep up this pace during summer, or if it will be all spent in a couple of weeks.

Delosperma sp. (Sani Pass, Lesotho)
Delosperma sp. (Sani Pass, Lesotho)

The Delosperma sp. (Drakensberg) is currently flowering along the edges of the plant but flower buds abound everywhere on the plant, so maybe it’s just a matter of time before this one will be completely covered in flowers as well.

Delosperma sp. (Drakensberg)
Delosperma sp. (Drakensberg)

Delosperma sp. (Drakensberg), close-up
Delosperma sp. (Drakensberg), close-up

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Delosperma – all dressed up for winter

This winter has been wet, wet, wet in Denmark, but not all that cold. It’s probably not the optimal environment for Delosperma, but the four species I’m currently cultivating certainly don’t seem to mind their growing conditions. Most of the plants have assumed a reddish hue as illustrated by the photos below. All plants are growing in unprotected beds.

Delosperma nubigenum (Sani Pass, 2900m, Lesotho)
Delosperma nubigenum (Sani Pass, 2900m, Lesotho)

Delosperma sp. 'John Proffit' (East Cape Drakensberg)
Delosperma sp. 'John Proffit' (East Cape Drakensberg)

Delosperma sp. (Sani Pass, Lesotho)
Delosperma sp. (Sani Pass, Lesotho)

Only the Delosperma sp. (Drakensberg) is its usual bright green self, showing only slight traces of red pigmentation.

Delosperma sp. (Drakensberg)
Delosperma sp. (Drakensberg)

Saturday, September 30, 2006

Delosperma – late flowering

I know this post is a bit out of context, but the Delosperma plants are growing among my winter hardy cacti so that ought to give it some relevance ;-)

Having passed the autumnal equinox I hadn’t expected any flowers from the Delosperma plants – nevertheless two of them are still displaying a few.

Delosperma nubigenum
Delosperma nubigenum

Delosperma nubigenum (hardy yellow ice plant) has a vigorous carpeting growth habit with succulent and evergreen foliage. The foliage is supposed to have a bright red winter color (this is my first season growing Delosperma so I can’t say for sure). The plant has been flowering all through summer, except for the hottest periods.

Delosperma 'John Proffit'
Delosperma 'John Proffit'

The prolific Delosperma 'John Proffit' almost exploded with growth during summer and grew a lot of flowers. I’m intrigued by the bright center of the flowers almost illuminating them from within when basking in the sun.

As mentioned I haven’t grown Delosperma before, so I’m a bit excited to see how (and if) they make it through winter.

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Delosperma 'John Proffit'

Early this summer I planted a Delosperma 'John Proffit' among my winter hardy cacti. It’s a prolific grower and has been flowering most of the summer.

Delosperma 'John Proffit'
Delosperma 'John Proffit'

Allegedly Delosperma 'John Proffit' is cold hardy in Denmark – I’m hoping it survives the coming winter.

Delosperma 'John Proffit' growing among cacti
Delosperma 'John Proffit' growing among cacti