Click on image thumbnail to enlarge -›››

Dudleya lanceolata – Crassulaceae - ‘Lance-Leaf Dudleya,' 'Lanceleaf Liveforever,' 'Coast Dudleya' - This is a very beautiful species of the 'California Liveforevers' that inhabits coastal climates from the Big Sur Coast to just south of the Mexican Border. More adaptable to different wild climates that other Dudleyas, you will see this growing on cliff faces, in shady zones, as well as in large colonies on flat ground. These are an exceptional sight in late summer, mixed into the showy flowering herbs of the coastal zone in a very elegant color palette, from the scarlet of Indian Paintbrush, to the orange of Sticky Monkeyflower, the ruddy reds of Wild Buckwheat, to the yellow-red bells of this gorgeous Dudleya. With narrow succulent blue-green leaves, and tall, long blooming flower stalks, this is a long-lived (30-50 years or more is possible) beauty for outdoors in mild climates. It can succeed outdoors with 40 inches of winter rain on the Redwood Coast, so it is more tolerant of overhead water than most rosette-succulents. However, it is probably better to keep excessive water from pooling up inside the rosette by keeping the plant at an angle, or allowing it to dry out between waterings in order to take away any chance of rot. It also makes an excellent potted succulent.

It will grow well outdoors along the West Coast in any very well-drained soil in the ground, or of course in pots. It prefers a summer drought - winter rain regimen, and should be kept fairly dry or completely dry all summer long. Otherwise, it can be kept in ordinary succulent houseplant conditions, which involve the reverse watering regimen with a summer rest from watering. Hardy to 20°F or less.