A High Desert Garden
- Melt In The Sun
- Posts: 340
- Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2011 6:00 pm
- Location: Tucson, AZ
- John P Weiser
- Posts: 1261
- Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:08 pm
- Location: Sparks, NV
This particular delosperma is a tiny little gem. It forms a tight little mat about five inches across with leaves about half an inch tall. The leaves all pointing toward the sky. The flowers are half inch across a little smaller than a dime. (I know they look bigger in the photos! ) It is an alpine and will take full sun but it likes low humidity and cool evening temps. It only sets one flush of bloom early in the spring but oh what a show!!
There are many species of delosperma that can take the heat and full sun, but all like low humidity. Delosperma cooperi, Delosperma dyeri, Delosperma floribunda, and Delosperma ashtonii are a few that I grow but are just the tip of the iceberg. Many more are available but are too tender to withstand my winters.
I grow two that need afternoon shade to look their best Delosperma nubigenum and Delosperma basuticum.
There are many species of delosperma that can take the heat and full sun, but all like low humidity. Delosperma cooperi, Delosperma dyeri, Delosperma floribunda, and Delosperma ashtonii are a few that I grow but are just the tip of the iceberg. Many more are available but are too tender to withstand my winters.
I grow two that need afternoon shade to look their best Delosperma nubigenum and Delosperma basuticum.
From the High Desert Steppe
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
Is that Delosperma sphalmanthoides in the garden? I tried that and it dissolved as soon as the autumn rains came. Under cover I don't give it a second thought even in the last two freakishly cold winters.
Your two "shade" Delospermas probably just can't take the heat. Both are found only at very high altitude and are not shrinking violets about being in the sun. Mine freak out if I try to keep them in the greenhouse. I have several other Delospermas that also can't take high heat. Strangely enough D. sphalmanthoides seems to cope with summer heat but I think it shuts down until it cools off.
Your two "shade" Delospermas probably just can't take the heat. Both are found only at very high altitude and are not shrinking violets about being in the sun. Mine freak out if I try to keep them in the greenhouse. I have several other Delospermas that also can't take high heat. Strangely enough D. sphalmanthoides seems to cope with summer heat but I think it shuts down until it cools off.
--ian
- Peterthecactusguy
- Posts: 8862
- Joined: Fri Feb 19, 2010 7:49 am
- Location: Black Canyon City, Arizona
- John P Weiser
- Posts: 1261
- Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:08 pm
- Location: Sparks, NV
ian
I'm sure you are right about the heat affecting Delosperma nubigenum and Delosperma basuticum. This is often the case with alpine species from many Genera. The bigger problem is the combining high heat with high humidity. That is like a double whammy, it seems to be a deadly combination for most alpines.
I'm sure you are right about the heat affecting Delosperma nubigenum and Delosperma basuticum. This is often the case with alpine species from many Genera. The bigger problem is the combining high heat with high humidity. That is like a double whammy, it seems to be a deadly combination for most alpines.
From the High Desert Steppe
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
- Peterthecactusguy
- Posts: 8862
- Joined: Fri Feb 19, 2010 7:49 am
- Location: Black Canyon City, Arizona
I saw the name for the cold hardy ones that were cold hardy to -10. It was Delosperma cooperii (or culterii) I cant remember which. But I am thinking about picking up some of them. They seemed to do ok in heat and full sun from the labeling.
Here's to you, all you insidious creatures of green..er I mean cacti.
- John P Weiser
- Posts: 1261
- Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:08 pm
- Location: Sparks, NV
We are finally getting enough warmth to help bud up the cacti.
Here are some companion plants, my first Echinocereus blossoms of the year and new acquisitions.
Echinocereus engelmannii var. chrysocentrus
Echinocereus ledingii
Echocereus rigidissimus
Pediocactus simpsonii
Erigeron compositus
Viola purpurea ssp. venosa
Lastly the first meager Echinocereus blossoms of the season. Echinocereus knippelianus var. krugerii
Here are some companion plants, my first Echinocereus blossoms of the year and new acquisitions.
Echinocereus engelmannii var. chrysocentrus
Echinocereus ledingii
Echocereus rigidissimus
Pediocactus simpsonii
Erigeron compositus
Viola purpurea ssp. venosa
Lastly the first meager Echinocereus blossoms of the season. Echinocereus knippelianus var. krugerii
From the High Desert Steppe
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
- John P Weiser
- Posts: 1261
- Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:08 pm
- Location: Sparks, NV
Echinocereus knippelianus sails through my winters with no problems. It's even throwing a pup out.
From the High Desert Steppe
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
- Peterthecactusguy
- Posts: 8862
- Joined: Fri Feb 19, 2010 7:49 am
- Location: Black Canyon City, Arizona