Dudleya caespitosa (Sea Lettuce, Coast Dudleya)

Scientific Name

Dudleya caespitosa (Haw.) Britton & Rose

Common Names

Sea Lettuce, Sand Lettuce, Coast Dudleya, Coastal Dudleya, Bluff Lettuce

Synonyms

Cotyledon caespitosa, Cotyledon helleri, Cotyledon linguiformis, Cotyledon reflexa, Dudleya cotyledon, Dudleya helleri, Echeveria caespitosa, Echeveria californica, Echeveria cotyledon, Echeveria helleri, Sedum cotyledon

Scientific Classification

Family: Crassulaceae
Subfamily: Sedoideae
Tribe: Sedeae
Subtribe: Sedinae
Genus: Dudleya

Description

Dudleya caespitosa is a rosette form succulent up to 8 inches (20 cm) wide, containing up to 30 leaves. The leaves are fleshy, pale green, and cone-shaped to oblong, up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide and up to 0.4 inch (1 cm) thick. The stem is a caudex which grows erect up to 8 inches (20 cm) in height before branching into the inflorescence. Its color is variable, from green to red and yellow shades. At the top is a tall inflorescence which may hold 10 or 15 flowers on each of several branches. The flowers are bright yellow with pointed petals.

How to Grow and Care

Most of the myriad habitats Dudleyas occupy become dry in summer. Therefore, it is important to cut off water to Dudleyas in your garden during summer. Plants grown in sandy soils or containers are exceptions; they will accept infrequent summer watering as long as the soil drains well. The onset of fall or winter rains reawakens Dudleyas from drought-induced dormancy. Their shriveled leaves plump up quickly, growth resumes, and flowering occurs during the next spring or summer… – See more at: How to Grow and Care for Dudleya.

Origin

It is endemic to California, where it grows along the coastline in the southern half of the state.

Links

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