Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Dudleya lanceolata is a succulent plant known by the common name Lanceleaf Dudleya and lanceleaf liveforever. This plant is native to the mountains of southern California and Baja California, where it is found in rocky areas and slopes. This dudleya has fleshy, pointed leaves of variable shape and size, from a star-shaped basal rosette of flat, spade-shaped leaves to bunches of longer, thicker leaves. Its stem is erect and bears a branching flower cluster with up to 20 flowers on each of its few branches. The flowers are generally bright yellow, pink, or red, with pale green bases. The leaves grow only 3-4 inches above the ground, but the flower branches grow up to 2 feet high. This species is in the Subgenus Dudleya which has tubular flowers and is pollinated by hummingbirds or bumble bees.

Plant type

Perennial herb, Succulent

Size

4 - 8 in Tall
1 ft Wide

Form

Spreading

Growth rate

Slow

Dormancy

Summer Semi-deciduous

Fragrance

None

Calscape icon
Color

Orange, Pink, Red, Yellow

Flowering season

Spring, Summer

Special uses

Containers

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Low, Very Low

Summer irrigation

Never irrigate once established

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to 12° F

Soil drainage

Fast, Medium, Slow

Soil description

Tolerates sand and clay but prefers very rocky substrate.
Soil PH: 5.0 - 8.0

Propagation

The plant produces offsets which may be separated for planting elsewhere. Seed propagation is difficult because the seed is very tiny and dust-like.  For propagating by seed: No treatment.

Sunset Zones

7, 9, 14, 15, 16*, 17*, 18*, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*

Site type

Rocky slopes of canyon, bluffs, marine terraces and mesas within Chaparral and Coastal Sage Scrub. The basal rosette is often hidden under other plants and only the inflorescence is visible.

Plant communities

Chaparral, Coastal Scrub

Hummingbirds
Birds
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

1 confirmed and 2 likely

Confirmed Likely

Sonoran Blue

Philotes sonorensis

Orange Tortrix Moth

Argyrotaenia franciscana

Moss' Elfin

Callophrys mossii