Hardy Succulents - Aizoaceae

[McDonough]

We already have a category for "Sedum, Sempervivum, Jovibara, and other Crassulaceae", but since we also have things like hardy Delosperma, I'm starting this topic.

I received a plant labeled Stomatium patulum (Tiger Jaws Iceplant), with the added note from the sender "likely misnamed".  here's the plant, never flowered all summer, but making pretty good little mounds of opposite "jawed" leaves.  Anyone have an idea about what this plant might be?  I can't find any certifiable photos of Stomatium patulum even as a starting point.  I've never grown Stomatium before, so don't know what to expect, but doing a search reveals some attractive plants.

Picsearch results for Stomatium
http://www.picsearch.com/pictures/plants/garden%20plants/plants%20sk-sy/stomatium.html

Stomatium mustellinum
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/108386/

PS. In the first photo, the potted plant is Talinum (Phemeranthus) 'Zoe', which might look dead from afar, but it is quite alive and well; just went into dormancy mode for the winter.

[Hoy]

Have you considered Faucaria, Mark? F. hoolea (dwarf tiger jaw) looks very similar (but it is lots of similar looking species).

[McDonough]

Have you considered Faucaria, Mark? F. hoolea (dwarf tiger jaw) looks very similar (but it is lots of similar looking species).

I'm not at all familiar with Aizoaceae, so all of these things are totally new to me.  I couldn't anything on F. hoolea, but used IPNI to find names of Faucaria, and there is a Faucaria hooleae... with the extra "e" got some results.  The "mesembs" that I received are all supposed to be hardy ones.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14671025@N05/4727855967/in/photostream/

[Hoy]

Sorry, I lost the last e!
I am not very familiar with those plants either but when I visited S.A. I bought a small flora "Succulents of South Africa" at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.
I know that Silverhill Seeds, South Africa http://www.silverhillseeds.co.za/ sell seeds of hardy succulents.

[McDonough]

Trond, the link to Silverhill Seeds has me once again spending hours looking through their lists, such an addictive distraction!

New to my garden this summer are forms of an undetermined Delosperma species from Kirstenbosch, representing two collections of apparently the same species.  It still has a few small magenta flowers.  These are growing in the ground at the base of a trough, slightly raised, in a southerly exposure, I hope that they overwinter.

[Hoy]

I bought lots of seed from Silverhill years ago and had some nice and unusual S.A. plants for several years. The last has gone so maybe it is time to some buy seeds again!
Though I still have a yellow Delosperma  from another source. It survived the last hard winter but do not flower, the summers are not hot enough and it is too little sun where it sits. The slugs devour the buds anyway.

[McDonough]

Here's a tiny one I received labeled Esterhuysenia alpina "compact form", with a note that it is probably a Lampranthus, ex. collected on Matroosberg, West Cape at over 8000 ft, October 2008. The leaf tips are tinged pink, and this first (and last for the season) very late flower bud showing some pink in it, will probably never open because we're suddenly getting temperatures dipping below freezing, mid 20s F.

[McDonough]

Well, it went down to 24 F (-4 C) last night, but did warm up to about 43 F (6 C) during the day, lo and behold the flower on Esterhuysenia alpina "compact form" (probably a Lampranthus) was starting to open, undeterred by the hard frost.

[Hoy]

Mark, This being a plant from 8000ft I am not surprised that it tolerates frost. All the plants growing at that hights have to be frost insensitive especially during the night, even at summertime. A nice little ice plant.

[Lori S.]

Wow, Esterhuysenia alpina being from 8000' elevation makes me wonder if it could be hardy here?  Is anyone growing this in colder zones?

[McDonough]

Yet another mesemb that I received is Delosperma 'White Nugget', apparently a sport of D. basuticum.  It didn't flower this summer, but bulked up a little bit.  It is taking on some cold weather foliage coloration right now, I hope it survives the winter.

[Weiser]

Great photos guys!
I grow a few of these myself!
The two smaller ones are D. Basuticum and D. sphalmanthoides. They have never given me any worries and are very reliable.

First three D. sphalmanthoides
Second three D. Basuticum

[Hoy]

Great photos guys!
I grow a few of these myself!
The two smaller ones are D. Basuticum and D. sphalmanthoides. They have never given me any worries and are very reliable.

I can see that!
I have always dreamed of growing a floriferous vygie! Some survive for a couple of years but they never bloom like that!

[Weiser]

Hoy
I loose them too but I usually have two or three growing in differant locations and one will always survive. Delosperma cooperi seeds around quite vigorously. I find it sprouting in some of the most unlikely and inconvenient places. I'd say right in the center of a patch of Opuntia, armed with two inch, sharp spines a little inconvenient.

Since I mentioned Delosperma cooperi here are a couple of shots.

[RickR]

John,
Here in Minnesota, and I would expect for Trond with his wet winters, Delospermas (and like genera) that can take the cold die easily from winter wet.  I don't expect that is a problem with you.

What is it that makes some die while others of the same species live in your climate?