Dudleya pulverulenta
chalk dudleya
Southern California and northern Baja California
Attracts PollinatorsAttracts HummingbirdsDeer ResistantDrought TolerantContainer Friendly
Native to North America
Overview
Dudleya pulverulenta is an evergreen succulent in the stonecrop family, forming a single flat rosette 8-18 inches (20-45 cm) across of broad, spoon-shaped leaves. The leaves are coated in a thick chalky-white powder, called farina, that reflects sunlight and reduces water loss, giving the plant a pale, ghostly look. In late spring it sends up arching reddish flower stalks 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) tall lined with tubular red to pink flowers that open over several weeks. The flowers are pollinated mainly by hummingbirds. It grows on rock faces, cliffs, and steep slopes in southern California and northern Baja California, rooting in crevices where water drains away quickly. The plant is drought tolerant and goes partly dormant in summer, when the lower leaves dry and curl. The waxy coating rubs off easily and does not regrow on the same leaf, so handled rosettes keep finger marks. Its need for fast drainage and dislike of summer water and humidity make it short-lived in heavy soils or irrigated beds.
Native Range
Native to southern California and northern Baja California, Mexico. It grows on rock outcrops, cliff faces, and steep, well-drained slopes in coastal and inland scrub below about 5,000 feet (1,500 m).Suggested Uses
Used in rock gardens, succulent plantings, green roofs, and dry stone walls, and on steep banks where its crevice-rooting habit suits the site. It suits containers with sharp drainage and California native gardens kept dry through summer.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 3'
Width/Spread8" - 1'6"
Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years
Bloom Information
Flowers from April through June, sending up arching red stalks of tubular pink to red flowers. Blooming lasts several weeks as flowers open in sequence along the stalk. Hummingbirds work the flowers through the bloom period.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
red to pinkFoliage Description
chalky white to pale grayGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Dudleya pulverulenta grows in full sun to light shade in fast-draining rocky, sandy, or gritty soil and is often planted on slopes or in rock crevices. Water needs are very low; the plant rots in soil that stays wet, especially in summer when it is partly dormant. It tolerates a soil pH from about 6.0 to 7.5 and needs no fertilizer. Watering is timed to the cool months and withheld in summer heat, matching its native rainfall pattern. The chalky coating marks permanently when touched, so the rosettes are handled by the base. Plants grown in containers need a gritty mix and a pot that drains freely.Pruning
Pruning is limited to removing spent flower stalks after bloom and clearing dried lower leaves to tidy the rosette. Each plant has a single growing point that does not branch, so cutting it ends the rosette. Old leaves can be left in place as a natural mulch over the roots.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons