From the dry hillsides of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, Delosperma brings a reckless generosity to the garden edge. These low-growing succulents spread a foot or two in each direction, covering themselves in showy 1- to 2-inch flowers from June well into October — a seasonal run that most ground covers can only dream of. The sedum-like foliage stays tidy and compact, never asking for more than what the sky provides.

Full sun and sharp drainage are the only real demands. In sandy or gravelly soil, ice plants thrive with almost no intervention — no fertilizer, minimal water, and the kind of neglect most gardeners can happily manage. Bees work the flowers throughout the bloom season, drawn by the saturation of gold petals that catch light like wet paint. Rock gardens, dry slopes, and the front edges of borders are where Delosperma earns its keep.