Dudleya – 19 Gardening Tips

Dudleya is a genus of succulent plants in the family Crassulaceae, native to the Americas. The genus name honors William Russel Dudley (1849-1911), an American botanist and professor at Stanford University.

Dudleya are motly rosette-forming perennials, with leaves that are often fleshy and borne in basal rosettes or opposite pairs along the stems. The flowers are small and borne in inflorescences that arise from the leaf axils or terminal on the stems.

There are approximately 40 species in the genus, distributed througout North and South America from California to Patagonia. Dudleya are found in a variety of habitats, including coastal cliffs, rocky outcrops, and desert flats.

Some species of Dudleya are cultivated as ornamental plants, due to their attractive foliage and showy flowers.

How Do You Care For A Dudleya Plant?

Dudleyas should be planted in full sun on the coast and protected from afternoon sun in inland gardens. They should be provided with excellent drainage to prevent rotting. Deeply soak plants when soil approaches dryness. In summer, avoid overhead irrigation and water just once a month.

Dudleya

How Do You Identify A Dudleya?

Dudleya can be identified by their fleshy leaves, which look like rosettes and usually come in colors like gray, blue and green. These robust and long-lived plants typically grow on cliff faces, rocky outcrops and bluffs along the coast.

What Family Is Dudleya?

Dudleya is a genus of succulent plants in the stonecrop family, Crassulaceae, consisting of about 68 taxa in southwestern North America and Guadalupe Island.

Is It Illegal To Pick Succulents In California?

Yes, it is now illegal to pick succulents in California wthout landowner permission or a permit. This is due to the destructive environmental impact of plant poaching. The misdemeanor crime carries a possible six-month prison sentence and up to $500,000 in fines.

Why Do People Poach Plants?

There are a few reasons why people poach plants. One reason is that some plants are very rare, and collectors will pay a high price for a rare plant. Another reason is that some plants are used in traditional medicine, and poachers may harvest tese plants to sell on the black market. Finally, some people simply enjoy the challenge of stealing plants from protected areas.

Dudleya

How Do You Propagate Dudleya?

Dudleya can be propagated from offsets or seed. To propagate from offsets, simply remove the offset from the mother plant and pot it up in well-draining cactus mix. Keep the offset moist but not wet until it has rooted and is growing on its own. To propagate from seed, sow the seeds in a well-draining cactus mix and keep them moist but not wet until they have germinated. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant them into individual pots.

What Can I Plant With Dudleya?

Dudleya succulents are ofen used as groundcover or in rock gardens, as they are tolerant of poor soil and dry conditions. They can be planted with other drought-tolerant plants such as cacti, agave, and yucca.

How Do You Repot Dudleya?

To repot dudleya, remove the plant from its current pot and shake off any excess soil. Prune away any dead or damaged roots, then place the plant in a new pot that is only slightly larger than the previous one. Half-fill the pot with a well-draining potting mix, set a large stone off-center, and arrange the dudleya stems aroud it. Fill in the pot with more potting mix, shake the pot gently from side to side to allow the mix to settle and fill in any air pockets, then water gently but thoroughly. Water weekly during the dry months.

How Big Do Dudleyas Get?

Dudleyas can grow up to 18 inches tall and wide. They are easily grown in sandy, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun or slightly filtered light. During active growth, water moderately and apply a low-nitrogen fertilizer once a month, but cease feeding in the summer dormancy period, when water should be withheld.

Do Ice Plants Bloom All Summer?

Ice plants (Delosperma cooperi) bloom for most of the summer and fall. Their foliage is motly evergreen, making them a great year-round ground cover. However, some dieback of foliage may occur during winter months. Ice plants grow best in USDA plant hardiness zones 5-9.

How Do You Care For A Live Forever Plant?

Live forever plants are easy to grow in sunny sites with any reasonable soil. Be realistic in your care, however, and fertilize the plants occasionally to keep them growing. Also, old clumps of sedum need division every few years as the plants mine all available nutrients from the soil where they grow.

How Do You Harvest Dudleya Seeds?

Dudleya seeds can be harvested by cutting the stalk of the inflorescence and placing a paper bag over it. The bag should be turned upside down in order to collect the seed without losing it to the wind. It is important to nver collect seed from native habitats, as this is considered poaching unless a permit has been obtained, and is punishable by law.

How Do You Plant Dudleya Seeds?

Dudleya seeds are very tiny, so it is best to sow them in a seed tray filled with a well-draining soilless mix. You can sprinkle the seeds across the whole tray and then gently mist the soil until it is moist. It is important to check the soil a few times a day and mist it daily to keep it evenly moist, but not wet. Germination should occur in approximately 10 days.

How Do You Grow Chalk Dudleya?

Chalk dudleya is a succulent plant that is native to the coast of California. It grows in rocky areas and cliff faces, and gets its name from the white, chalky substance that covers its leaves. The plant is drought-tolerant and can be grown in full sun or partial shade. It does not need much water, and can even tolerate salt spray. Chalk dudleya can be propagated from seed or cuttings.

Are Succulents Native To California?

Yes, succulents are native to California. There are many different species of succulents, and they can be found all over the state. Succulents are adapted to survive in dry conditions, and many of them are drought-tolerant. This makes them a popular choice for landscaping in areas that do not receive a lot of rainfall.

What Is Calscape?

Calscape is a CNPS database that gives you access to 150 years of knowledge about California native plants local to your area. Calscape provides information to help Californians restore nature and save water, one garden at a time. It shows whch plants are truly native to any specific location in the state.

How Do You Treat Agave Blue Flame?

Agave blue flame is a succulent plant that is native to Mexico. It is easily grown in slightly acidic, sandy or gravelly, moist or dry, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates part shade, particularly in hot desert gardens where light shade will prevent scorching of the foliage. Keep in a frost-free area in winter and put it out on the patio or balcony in summer.

How Do You Propagate Echeveria Afterglow?

To propagate Echeveria Afterglow, take stem or leaf cuttings dring the warmer months, preferably at the start of spring. Offsets can be removed. Allow the cuttings or offsets to dry for several days before placing them in their own pots.

About Dudleyas: Plant Care And Info

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Caroline Bates

Caroline is a Miami-based landscaper who specializes in drought-tolerant landscapes. She is the mother of two young children and also enjoys writing for GreenPacks.org in her spare time. Caroline takes great pride in her work, and loves being able to share her knowledge with others through her writing.