Drosanthemum hispidum

Drosanthemum hispidum, also known as Rice Grain Ficoïde or simply Rice Grain, is an excellent ground cover plant for dry gardens in Mediterranean regions. In spring, its vegetation is literally covered with shiny pinkish-purple flowers, transforming this perennial into a magnificent flower carpet or a vibrant cascade of colour, depending on whether it is planted on a wall, in a rockery, as a border plant, or in a large hanging basket. Its small succulent leaves, covered with shiny papillae, persist during winter, but they can be deciduous during summer if it is very dry.

Drosanthemum hispidum is a plant from the Aizoaceae family, native to the Cape Province in South Africa, specifically the Namaqualand. This semi-hardy perennial is perfectly adapted to hot and dry Mediterranean climates. It can be planted between rocks in a rockery, along the edge of a raised bed, or on a dry slope, as long as it has some substrate. However, if your region experiences temperatures close to -8°C (17.6°F), place it in a pot or container that you can bring indoors during winter to protect it from the cold. The roots of this Drosanthemum are deep, allowing it to withstand very dry summers. Its growth is rapid.

This plant has a prostrate habit, developing flexible and slender creeping stems, slightly hairy, highly branched, which easily root upon contact with the soil. It colonizes space with a width that can reach 70-80cm (28-32in) or more under favourable conditions. The height of the vegetation does not exceed 20cm (8in). The stems bear small succulent leaves arranged in opposite pairs, grouped in small clusters, cylindrical, shiny, and covered with water-filled papillae. They are bright green during the growth period. The flowering, which lasts about 6 weeks, occurs in spring, starting from March-April on the Mediterranean coast, a little later in colder climates. The very dense vegetation disappears under a multitude of small solitary daisy-like flowers, 2.5cm (1in) in diameter. Each flower consists of very thin and shiny petals of pinkish-purple colour surrounding an almost white centre. The flowers only open in full sunlight. This flowering is nectar-rich and attractive to bees. The seeds of this Drosanthemum self-sow spontaneously in light soils.

Drosanthemum hispidum is perfect in a large dry rockery, stunning when cascading from a wall or a low wall. It is also an excellent plant for rooftop terraces. It can be combined with Sedums and Delosperma, with which it shares the same requirements: sunny and well-drained soil that is dry to very dry. However, it is important to anticipate its spread, which can become significant over time.