Dudleyas - Notes

1/6/2013

Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden

Delightful Dudleyas

C.M. Vadheim and T. Drake
CSUDH & Madrona Marsh Preserve

Madrona Marsh Preserve
Gardening with Western L.A. County Native Plants March 3 & 6, 2012
Project SOUND – 2012 (our 8th year)
© Project SOUND © Project SOUND

The Live-forevers: genus Dudleya
We already know that California (and Baja
California) plants are special…  Named for William Russel Dudley (1849-
1911), first professor of botany and head
of the Botany Department at Stanford
 Our Mediterranean climate requires that University
plants adapt to summer drought.
 ~ 40 species; native to the arid western
 One common adaptations is succulence. United States (in particular, Southwest/
Modified tissues store large amounts of Northern California and Oregon), Baja
water, making the plant part appear California.
fleshy, succulent, or swollen.
 Very similar in appearance to other
 Species in various plant families and Stonecrops (sempervivum; sedum;
genera have independently evolved echeveria).
succulence as a mechanism for conserving http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_Rus

water and survival in arid environments.  Often grow in stone crevasses or sand
sell_Dudley_(1849-1911).jpg

dunes with little or no organic soil.
 There are an estimated 10,000 succulent
plant species throughout the world  Long-lived (to 100+ years for some
species) hence the common name


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1/6/2013

The Stonecrop Family: Crassulaceae
Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM)
 ~ 1500 species
 Most genera exhibit some leaf succulence  Found in 3-4% of plant species;
 Many species are used widely as garden and at least 26 angiosperm families
house plants Examples:
 Nearly all are “succulents”
 The genus Crassula includes the well-known Jade (thick, fleshy leaves and
Plants and other small sub-shrubs, choice
http://www.southampton.bcss.org.uk/images/image145.jpg
minatures and mat-forming plants. stems)
Echeverias
 Cotyledon includes interesting shrubby species  Nearly all are from deserts or
with succulent stems and leaves. Some species
have showy tubular yellow, orange or red flowers. other hot-summer areas
 Echeverias are often used in rock gardens and  Is an extremely important
indoor plants.
water-conservation strategy
 Kalanchoe includes plants with showy flowers.
for plants in hot, dry climates
 Sedums are well known for hardy mat-forming
Stonecrops which provides useful flower color in
the garden in late summer and early autumn.

Kalanchoe http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/potd/2006/02/sedum_spathulifolium.php © Project SOUND

Gases and water vapor enter and exit
All plants have the ability to convert
plants through stomata
carbon dioxide to sugars, using
energy from the sun

The process of photosythesis

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1/6/2013

CAM - observations CAM plants like Dudleyas are adapted to
hot, dry climates
 Stomates - open at
night; closed during  Dudleyas only open their stomata at night to take up
carbon dioxide. They keep their stomata closed during
day (inverted stomatal the hot days, allowing the plant to conserve tremendous
cycle) amounts of water

 The plant assimilates the carbon dioxide at night and
 CO2 uptake – high at converts it to a variety of organic acids. In the
night; low during day morning when the stomata close, the organic acids break
down and carbon dioxide is released.

 Acid content of cells –  With the energy of the new days sun light, the plant
converts the carbon dioxide it has been accumulating
highest at dawn; lowest all night into sugars.
at dusk
 Before being permanent CAM photosynthesizers, CAMs
were probably started intermittently switching to CAM
 Conclusion: CAM plants photosynthesis during times of drought and low
store Carbon as an acid rainfall. Eventually those species evolved into species
that solely depended on CAM photosynthesis
at night
© Project SOUND

In terms of their garden potential, you can
Dudleyas can be used in several ways in
think of Dudleyas as belonging to one of
the home garden
three categories
 The Dudleya divas
 Often larger in size
 Showy (exuberant) flowers
 Very attractive foliage

 The groundcover Dudleyas
 Medium to small size
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/2318/
 Readily spread, forming a mat

 The ‘Pretty in a Pot’ Dudleyas
 Medium to small size
 Unique flowers or foliage

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1/6/2013

Dudleya divas – showy accent plants Chalk Dudleya – Dudleya pulverulenta ssp. pulverulenta

http://www.researchlearningcenter.com/bloom/species/Dudleya_pulverulenta.htm

http://www.researchlearningcenter.com/bloom/species/Dudleya_pulverulenta.htm

Chalk Dudleya is very Echeveria-like
Chalk Dudleya – Dudleya pulverulenta ssp. pulverulenta
 Size:
 1-2 ft tall
 Coastal regions from
 1-2 ft wide (flower stalks wider)
San Luis Obispo south
into Baja  Growth form:
 Evergreen succulent
 Locally in Santa Monica  Becomes somewhat dry in
Mtns., western San summer
Gabriels
 Foliage:
 Rocky cliffs and  Leaves flat, end in sharp tips
canyons below 3000  completely covered with a mealy
feet white powder - hence
"pulverulenta" or "powdery."
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3284,3295,3327,3329
 Coastal sage scrub,  Stem (caudex) becomes
chaparral thickened with age – more so
than other species
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=DUPU
http://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/plant_display.asp?prodid=1536&account=none

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Taxonomic confusion: is that an Dudleya flowers are slightly different
Echeveria or a Dudleya?

http://www.collectorscorner.com.au/Cacti/Echeveri
a%20main.htm

Echeveria Dudleya

 Quite similar-looking; but with a few important differences
 Dudleya flowers arise from somewhere near the bottom of
 Several local species were formerly included in Echeveria: the rosettes normally (rarely from the rosette center as
 Canyon Live-forever – Dudleya cymosa most Echeveria flowers do).
 Chalk Dudleya – Dudleya pulverulenta
 Ladyfinger Dudleya – Dudleya edulis  Dudleyas & Echeverias do not form hybrids between the 2
genera; Dudleyas only interbreed with other Dudleyas

So…it’s recommended to NOT combine both in
But the real difference – and the most important for
the same part of the garden
gardeners – relates to their history
 Summer watering of Dudleyas
 Dudleyas should be very occasional: they are
 Native to the ‘Pacific Plate’
 Adapted to rainy winters & hot, dry
very summer ‘water-wise’ compared
summers to Echeverias
 Winter-growing; summer dormant
 Can kill them with too much summer  Most Dudleyas & Echeverias do best in
water well-drained soils; gravelly/sandy
 Echeverias  The roots of some Dudleya species do
Dudleya virens ssp hassei
 Native to the ‘North American Plate’ not absorb moisture well in the high
 Adapted to rainy summers & dry winters heat; water simply rots the roots
 Summer growing; winter dormant
 Can kill them with too much winter
(susceptible to root rot fungi).
water
 Treat as Zone 1-2 (water only several
times a summer & not at summer’s end)
The two genera have been separated for long
enough that each is very well adapted to its  Dudleyas in very well-drained soils
own environment (sandy) or in pots should be treated as
© Project SOUND http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.as
Zone 2 © Project SOUND
p?plant_id=538

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 Dudleyas can also rot from the Give them what
crown or leaves, particularly if
water is left sitting on the delicate they like…
leaves (some are more sensitive
than others).  Plant them in/near rocks
 Naturally occurring
Dudleya virens ssp hassei  Either avoid getting water on the http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/241664905/

 Local boulders brought in to
leaves, or plant them at an angle so the Dudleya pulverulenta
add interest
water runs off.
 Plant them on slopes – or
 In nature, many species grow naturally plant the rosette at an angle
on cliff faces and steep slopes so rather than horizontal
water cannot sit on these plants.
 Water only occasionally
 Excess water also attracts snails and during summer – Zone 1-2
slugs – which love Dudleyas about right
http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.as
p?plant_id=538  No overhead water in
summer
Bottom line: best to not combine Dudleyas with succulents that have http://www.flickr.com/photos/93452909@N00/191287029/

very different water requirements (Echeverias; Sedums; etc.) SOUND
© Project D. virens ssp. hassei © Project SOUND

Flowers are like no
Be creative with rocks
others: dramatic!
& Dudleyas
 Blooms: spring/early
summer; typical for  Sometimes man-made stone
Dudleyas structures are perfect places
 Flowers: for Dudleyas
 On long flowering stalks –
plan accordingly
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/2606066487_0aaaf1ed09.jpg?v=0
http://img4.sunset.com/i/2009/04/dream-gardens-stone-seat-l.jpg

 Note hummingbird-plant
features:
 Red color;
 Shape;
 Flowers held away from
plant to allow access
 Heavy duty, sweet
nectar
http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/Anna%27s_Hummingbird_on_chalk_dudlea.jpg
http://www.marrsandersen.com/California-plants/California-
http://www.timetotrack.com/jay/dudleyc5.htm © Project SOUND plants-Pages/Image28.html © Project SOUND
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/241665013/in/photostream/

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1/6/2013

* Silver Dollar Plant - Dudleya brittonii Silver Dollar Plant - Dudleya brittonii
 Native coastal areas of the
Pacific side of Baja California
between Tijuana & Ensenada
and on Isla Todos Santos

 On cliffs and hilly areas in
lava rock and other very
porous soils.

http://home.comcast.net/~ldecola/baja/

http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/viewplant.php?pid=1509

© Project SOUND http://www.yacht-transport.com/page/autumn2009/Oregon.html
© Project SOUND

Silver Dollar Dudleya –
Nathaniel Lord Britton a larger dudleya
 Size:
 1+ ft tall
 the specific epithet honors  1-2 ft wide
Nathaniel Lord Britton
(1859-1934), botanist and http://www.bambooandmore.info/2011_10_02_archive.html
 Growth form:
first Director of the New  Basal rosette – stem (caudex) is very
http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Dudleya-brittonii/

York Botanical Garden. Dr. short, so leaves are bunched up
Britton is also famous for  40 to 100 leaves, each up to 10
his collaboration with inches long
Joseph Nelson Rose of the  Often solitary – not spreading
Carnegie Institute on The Moderate lifespan – 30+ years
http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/~alroy/lef
a/Britton.html 
Cactaceae, a four-volume
work started in 1906 and  Foliage:
published in 1924.  Green or (more commonly in trade)
very blue-white
 Leaves flattened
http://sabrinacampagna.tumblr.com/post/2675832454/the-cactaceae-vol-4-descriptions-and © Project SOUND © Project SOUND
http://www.soenyun.com/Blog/2010/10/18/my-new-natives/

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1/6/2013

Why are some Dudleyas so white? Flowers are fantastic

 Why?  Blooms: in spring – usually
Apr-June in our area
 Protection against sun damage
 Water conservation  Flowers:
 Pale yellow
 How?
 Stout flowering stem and
 Leaves are covered with a dusty, bracts are pastel pink
http://www.arthurleej.com/p-o-m-Jan11.html
chalky, mealy white epicuticular (worthy of a diva); beautiful
“wax”. contrast with foliage
 The wax in its mealy state on the  Attract hummingbirds
leaves is attracted to water and
coats drops on the leaves and  Seeds:
prevents their evaporation.  Dry capsules split open when
seeds are ripe
 The wax has the highest
 Seeds are tiny, many
measured ultraviolet reflectivity
of any plant. http://www.xericworld.com/forums/members/kelly-griffin-albums-dudleya-picture1145-dudleya-
http://image54.webshots.com/154/5/90/28/539959028nsjBLY_fs.jpg brittonii-la-mission.html
http://www.succulent-plant.com/families/crassulaceae/dudleya.html

 Soils: Give the diva a proper stage!
Plant Requirements  Texture: well-drained
 pH: any local  In a Baja-themed garden,
with it’s natural associates
 Light:
 Afternoon shade  In a rock or gravel garden –
 Dappled shade be sure to consider contrasts

 Water:  Often grown as a specimen
 Winter: needs normal amount plant in a large container
 Summer: best with
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/amarguy/3949915856/

infrequent summer water –
Zone 1-2; no overhead water

 Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils

 Other:
http://www.scientificlib.com/en/Biology/Plants/Magnoliophyta/DudleyaBrittonii01.html
 tolerates garden conditions
better than the similar looking
Dudleya pulverulenta
http://www.hotgardens.net/cactus%20and%20succulents%20at%20huntington%20desert%20ga
© Project SOUND rden.htm © Project SOUND
http://www.faroutflora.com/2011/01/08/dudleyas-dudleyas-dudleyas/

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Use contrast to show divas in their best light
Designing with diva dudleyas

http://www.plantscomprehensive.com/dudleya-brittonii
http://www.southcoastbotanicgarden.org/node/368

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gXhU4_V-Hhg78Lwpg9OOZQ

 Accent plants whether
alone or interplanted
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iiUK9e2RW16pM8msvsmB4g

http://www.hotgardens.net/succulent_cactus_gallery.htm

Many Dudleyas are long-lived Dudleya ‘Palos Verdes’ – a lucky accident
 Probably hybrid : D.
pulverulenta X D. brittonii
 Good characteristics of
both parents

http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=3232

http://www.flickr.com/photos/morabeza79/favorites/page38/?view=lg

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1/6/2013

* Canyon Dudleya – Dudleya cymosa * Canyon Dudleya – Dudleya cymosa
 Dudleya cymosa ssp. ovatifolia =
Santa Monica Mountains Dudleya
Dudleya cymosa
ssp. ovatifolia
(threatened species)
 Dudleya cymosa ssp. marcescens also
endemic to SMM (endangered)

http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3284,3295,3310

http://www.calfloranursery.com/pages_plants/pages_d/dudcym.html
http://www.xericworld.com/forums/crassulaceae/2906-dudleya-cymosa.html

Many Dudleyas have small or threatened Canyon Dudleya: a diva, yes, but smaller
distribution: some are very rare
 Size:
 < 1 ft tall (6-8” commonly)
 < 1 ft wide

 Growth form:
Dudleya greenii – a Channel  Basal rosette; Echeveria-like
Islands endemic habit

 Foliage:
 Leaves light green to blue-
green; waxy
 Shape varies with sub-species;
 Like many California native plants, dudleyas are now considered flat and spoon-shaped to
rare, threatened or endangered, depending on the species. All are
protected by law, making it illegal to remove any plants from their lance-shaped.
natural habitat.  Leaves cup/hold water
 More are coming into cultivation – but many still are not available
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dudleya_cymosa_1.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33818785@N00/2594840898/

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ssp. marescens ssp. ovatifolia
 Endemic to Santa Monica Mtns
 Occur on sedimentary
 Grows on shaded, rocky slopes
and volcanic rocks of
 Rare the western Santa
 Flowers yellow, sometimes w/ pink Monica Mountains
bracts
 Also occurs in a few
http://www.researchlearningcenter.com/bloom/species/Dudleya_cymosa_marcescens.htm Grows on shaded, rocky slopes isolated occurrences in
the Santa Ana
Mountains of Orange Co.
 Rare
 Flowers bright yellow
with pink stalk
http://jay.timetotrack.com/dudlym3.htm
http://www.callutheran.edu/wf/chap/family/bjc-1781.htm

ssp. pumila Flowers are showy
 CA endemic
 Blooms: in spring – usually Apr-
 San Gabriel Mtns; also May in western L.A. Co.
found in Kern, Mojave
and as far north as  Flowers:
Monterey.  Flowers on relatively short ( ~
Ssp. pumila 1 ft) flowering stalks that may
 On Rocky outcrops, http://www.calfloranursery.com/pages_plants/pages_d/dudcym.html

be more simple or many
slopes, talus branched (ssp. pumila); arise
among older leaves (base of
 Flowers yellow with
rosette)
conspicuous pink
bracts  Flowers usually yellow but may
be pink; bracts and stems
 Likely the one usually pink to orange-pink;
available in the trade, often showy
as it is the most
showy http://www.cnps-sgm.org/gallery/G-Dudleya.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33818785@N00/2594840898/ http://www.siskiyourareplantnursery.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=200

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 Soils: Showcase a Diva
Excellent drainage
 Texture: well-drained; sandy or
rocky best  Makes an attractive pot plant;
 pH: any local neat rosette & showy flowers

 Light:  Recommended for rock crevices
 Afternoon shade is best; will look or growing out of the base of
best and survive better even in hot boulders in the rock garden
inland gardens
 Full sun only on immediate coast  Pair with local ferns,
Monkeyflowers, Nightshades
http://www.wildgingerfarm.com/Dudleya.htm

 Water:
 Winter: adequate; supplement in
dry years
 Summer: best with occasional (once
a month) summer water – Water
Zone 1-2

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33818785@N00/2594841114/  Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils. ¼
strength fertilizer in spring for
Use a rock mulch, like
container plants
Mother Nature does © Project SOUND http://www.yerbabuenanursery.com/viewplant.php?pid=0284
http://stevewolf.smugmug.com/keyword/crassulaceae/1/1264431629_VzWnxbD#!i=1264431629
&k=VzWnxbD © Project SOUND
http://www.wrightmanalpines.com/plant/dudleya-cymosa

Be creative – Canyon Dudleya is a
versatile addition to the garden

http://www.cyndyandjohn.com/Holiday%20Letter%202004.htm http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Earth.Transformations.303-554-1352/picture/view/1707601

http://www.laspilitas.com/stores/escondido

Penstemon heterophyllus, Dudleya cymosa,
Mock Heather, and Sulfur Buckwheat seem to
do fine in hard, compacted soils

http://designerblog.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html
© Project SOUND http://gardeninginaustin.blogspot.com/2012/01/project-front-flower-bed.html © Project SOUND

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Many-stemmed Dudleya – Dudleya multicaulis Many-stemmed Dudleya – Dudleya multicaulis
 Los Angeles Co. to
western San Bernardino,
Riverside, Orange and San
Diego Cos.

 Most of its known
occurrences are in Orange
County, where it lives mostly
along the coastal plain in
heavy clay soils.

 In dry, stony places below
2000 ft. in San Diegan
Coastal Sage scrub, Valley
Grassland & chaparral.

© 2002 BonTerra Consulting

Dudleya multicaulis is somewhat unusual Flowers: almost bulb-like
 Blooms: in spring - usually
 Size:
in April-June
 < 1 ft tall & wide
 Flowers:
 Growth form:
 dominated by its erect
 Stem/upper root corm-like stems, which are topped
(underground vertical with a branching
stem); dies back in dry inflorescence bearing up to
season 15 flowers on each long, thin
 In wild is not readily branch.
identifiable except during  The flowers have pointed
the late spring and early yellow petals up to a
summer when succulent centimeter long, and long
leaves and flowers may be stamens.
observed.
 Flowers age to red
 Foliage:
 Seeds: many, small in dry
 Leaves few, finger-like, capsule that splits open
blue-green with pink blush
© Project SOUND © 2010 Andrew Borcher © Project SOUND
http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/manystemmeddudleya.html
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/plants/Crassulaceae/Dudleya%20multicaulis.htm

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Plant Requirements  Soils: Bulb-like Diva
 Texture: well-drained; rocky
Dudleya multicaulis best  Grow where its small size will
 pH: any local be appreciated:
 Light:  Rock walls
 Afternoon shade or dappled  Rock gardens
sun  Containers
 Can also take full sun – dies  Works well in local native
back in summer bulb/fern garden
 Water:
 Winter: adequate moisture
 Summer: dry to occasional
water – Water Zones 1 or 1-2;
let dry out after blooming like a
bulb

 Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils
© 2003 Kristin Szabo

 Other: inorganic mulch shown with Isocoma menziesii, Hemizonia
© Project SOUND fasciculata © Project SOUND

San Gabriel Mtns. Dudleya – Dudleya densiflora

http://drystonegarden.com/index.php/2009/01/cabernet-stone-terracing/

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*Powdery Live-forever – Dudleya farinosa *Powdery Live-forever – Dudleya farinosa
 Most common along coast from San
Francisco and north for about 800 miles
to Oregon and some miles up its coast.

 Typical coastal species – low-growing
with very showy flowers

http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3284,3295,3320

© Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College


Powdery Dudleya: a
Dudleya groundcovers – the
spreading diva
spreaders
 Super succulent to fill a pot or
rock crevice

 Can also be used as a succulent
groundcover
http://www.infojardin.com/foro/showthread.php?t=36822

Gerald and Buff Corsi © California Academy of Sciences http://www.faroutflora.com/2011/01/08/dudleyas-dudleyas-dudleyas/
© 2002 Brad Kelley

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Many Dudleyas work well in planters Dudleyas are so versatile : formal or informal

http://drystonegarden.com/index.php/2009/01/cabernet-stone-terracing/

http://kristamaxwell.com/garden/photos2.html

 Dudleyas with strict
rosettes look quite formal
© Project SOUND http://www.ecosalon.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/more-showcase-2009-023-341x455.jpg © Project SOUND

Dudleya Bright Green Dudleya – Dudleya virens ssp hassei
Groundcovers

 Dudleya farinosa
 Dudleya virens
http://marvistagreengardenshowcase.blogspot.com/2012/02/3041-midvale-avenue.html  Dudleya edulis
 Dudleya anomala
 Dudleya viscida
 Dudleya caespitosa

http://marvistagreengardenshowcase.blogspot.com/2012/02/12806-stanwood-drive.html

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Dudleyas - Notes

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