Click on the image thumbnail to the right to enlarge -›››

Dudleya pulvurulenta – Crassulaceae - ‘Chalk Dudleya,' 'Chalk Liveforever.' -- While there are so many succulent enthusiasts growing exotic beauties, many people don't realize that California is home to it's own genus of 'Live-forevers' which are the ornamental equal to any succulent commonly grown for pleasure. The Dudleyas thrive on neglect and in a wider range of outdoor conditions than you would suspect; in other places they make fine houseplants. They are reputed to live for 50 to 100 years, becoming gnarly branched specimens that sometimes hang from cliff-faces. Pictured growing in the wild, it's geometric shape lends itself equally to the formal garden and the natural landscape.

Native to the hills of Southern California and Northern Baja, the Chalk Dudleya is so called because of the fine bloom of blue green powder that covers all plant parts. When watered, water droplets collect in the center looking very striking covered in this waxy powder. Long swaying flower stalks rise to over 3'-5 long, elongating with odd looking tubular red flowers, presumably pollinated by hummingbirds.

It will grow well outdoors along the West Coast in any very well-drained soil in the ground, or of course in pots. In the ground, it should be kept from where gophers might munch it. It prefers a summer drought - winter rain regimen, and actually will do well outdoors with this watering pattern where I live with over 70 inches of rain many winters! Otherwise, it should be kept in ordinary succulent houseplant conditions, which involve the reverse watering regimen with a summer rest from watering. Hardy to 10°F.