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> Welcome to the wacky world of Delosperma names in
> the horticultural trade. The only thing I can say
> for sure without seeing the plant is that it isn't
> D. congestum! This species is not known in
> cultivation and if the genus is ever revised the
> name will probably be dropped as dubious.
>
> The plant usually given this name is a compact
> species with triquetrous (am I allowed to use that
> word on here?) leaves and small yellow flowers.
> It also may come with a cultivar name, often
> having flowers with a white eye, and occasionally
> the name is attached to completely different
> Delospermas. I once had a "D. congestum" with a
> purple flower which was almost certainly D.
> cooperi. Another plant that often carries the
> name is superficially similar D. sp Lesotho which
> also has yellow flowers, but is very compact with
> distinct teeth along the edges of the leaves.
>
> This plant in all its forms is certainly cold
> hardy throughout the UK. I find it not as
> tolerant of winter wet as some Delospermas so
> would need careful positioning outside.
Hi Ian,
Yep, using the term triquetrous here is good. I've been trying to edify folks here, so join the club!
So D. congestum ain't in cultivation - that's really good to know! Think my newly acquired plant will have yellow flowers, or should this be petaloid staminodes?
This'll teach me to enter the world of mesembs. I'll maybe rename it Delosperma sp. and leave it at that. If it survives outdoors then so be it. A plant of such dubious taxonomic status won't get house room in my greenhouse that's for sure.
