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Dudleya brittonii – Crassulaceae - ‘Britton's Dudleya,' 'Giant Dudleya .' -- While the mainly California native genus Dudleya contains many fine members with great features, you have travel south to Baja California Norte in Mexico to find the true "giant" of the genus. A waxy and powdery-foliaged beauty like Dudleya pulvurulenta, Britton's Dudleya is at least twice as large! Its rosettes will reach over 12" in diameter, with an amazing geometric form that looks especially great in a clay pot or nestled between stones in a landscape planting. Long swaying flower stalks rise to 2'-4' in height, the stalk elongating with a broad flower stalk with many dozens of yellow tubular flowers.

This Dudleya is touchier about drainage and less cold-hardy than the Californian members of the genus. Britton's Dudleya will need to be sited carefully if planted in the ground outdoors, with perfect drainage and hopefully with a tilt to the side to prevent water from collecting overly in the heart, causing rot. It can only tolerate about 5 degrees of frost, putting it squarely in the USDA zone 9. It also does great in pots, indoors or out.