Delosperma nubigenum Ocean Sunset® Orange Glow

Delosperma Ocean Sunset® Orange Glow is a perennial groundcover whose flowers are among the largest in the genus, in flamboyant colours. This variety, which flowers well from spring to autumn, unfurls daisies blending orange, pink and yellow above a carpet of bright green succulent foliage. In full sun, it spreads rapidly into a carpet on dry slopes, in rockeries or in pots. Very drought-tolerant and hardy down to –12/–15 °C in perfectly drained soil, it is suitable for dry gardens, gravel beds and planters.

Delosperma Ocean Sunset® Orange Glow belongs to the Aizoaceae family, the same as ice plants, which includes many carpeting succulent plants. This cultivar is a horticultural hybrid. The wild species originate from rocky and dry regions of southern Africa, particularly South Africa and Lesotho. Delosperma are perennials whose succulent foliage can persist more or less, depending on the severity of winter. 
Ocean Sunset® Orange Glow is the result of the breeding programme conducted by Florsaika Breeding B.V. in Japan, distributed by Darwin Perennials and then by European nurseries, and registered under the code ‘T18-7’ (also found as ‘T1873’ depending on catalogues). The Ocean Sunset series is distinguished by its large flowers, a particularly long flowering period, good performance in hot climates, and good hardiness. This 'Orange Glow' variety shows the typical carpeting habit of perennial purslanes, but with more robust foliage and significantly larger flowers than the species. Its short and branching stems spread out at ground level. They bear bright to medium green, small, fleshy, cylindrical or slightly flattened leaves, with a triangular cross-section. In full flower, the plant reaches about ten centimetres in height, with a spread of around thirty centimetres, more with age as the stems root where they touch the soil. The abundant flowering begins in late May or early June and continues until September-October: each stem ends in a large, 3 to 4 cm in diameter flower, composed of a lemon-yellow centre surrounded by a tight crown of fine "petals" that are bright orange at the base, turning pink at the tip. In the sun, this gradient evokes a sunset. The flowers open mid-morning and close at night or in cloudy weather.

In the garden, Delosperma Ocean Sunset® Orange Glow lends itself to many uses in the right conditions: a very sunny location and soil that dries quickly. It is an excellent plant for rockeries and dry slopes, interesting for topping a dry-stone wall. In a gravel border, it will create colourful carpets at the foot of taller perennials or small shrubs. In pots or planters, it tolerates occasional missed waterings. You can pair it with the intense blue pompons of Globularia trichosantha, the steely blue foliage of Euphorbia myrsinites, the yellow cushions of Delosperma lineare, or the small, soft tufts of blue fescue 'Intense Blue'. Together they create a small, easy-care dry garden that is very colourful from spring to autumn.