Drosanthemum bicolor in the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden

Drosanthemum bicolor flowers have two colours as the specific name indicates. The maroon tips of the otherwise yellow petals bring a striking contrast to the flower of this popular vygie, an Afrikaans common name for nearly all the mesembs.

A large component of the succulent species of southern Africa are from the Aizoaceae. Succulents form a highly valued part of the 30 000 flowering plant species of South Africa. Many of them, including some rare and incredibly beautiful ones, grow in nature predominantly in the western, drier regions of the country (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Smith, et al, 1998).