

Liveforevers
Botanical name: Dudleya
Liveforevers
Botanical name: Dudleya


Description

A genus of succulent perennials from the American Southwest, liveforevers are tough, leathery little plants. All have a chalky or sticky coating on their leaves, which acts as natural sunscreen. Several species have been embraced as nearly drought-proof ornamentals perfect for warm, dry climates. Unfortunately, several species are threatened in the wild by habitat destruction due to land development.


Species of Liveforevers


Bright green dudleya
Dudleya virens leaves are fleshy and strap-shaped, 8 to 20 cm long and 1.5 to 3 cm broad, tapering from the base (or from near middle) and are mostly green. They are arranged in a rosette. The flowers are white, with five petals 7 to 10 mm long.

Bluff lettuce
Bluff lettuce (Dudleya farinosa) is a succulent species that can be found growing on hills along the coast of Oregon and California within the United States. Bluff lettuce is a popular houseplant in China and Korea, but is endangered in the wild due to illegal collection. As a houseplant, bluff lettuce grows optimally when watered very infrequently during the summer months. Bluff lettuce is considered a hardy species that is nonetheless susceptible to aphids and mealybugs.

Canyon live-forever
Canyon live-forever (Dudleya cymosa) is a perennial herb native to California and southern Oregon. Canyon live-forever is where the Sonoran blue butterfly lives during its larval stage. This species is considered cold hardy and often planted in coastal gardens, but is listed as threatened in the wild.

Chalk Lettuce
Chalk Lettuce (Dudleya pulverulenta) is a succulent species pollinated by hummingbirds and bumblebees. The chalk Lettuce is also known as the chalk lettuce or the chalk liveforever. This species grows best in cultivation when planted on rock walls or slopes. If it is planted facing the sky, it's more likely to fill with rain and die from root rot. This plant's leaves have a notable waxy coating, and it is considered especially susceptible to aphid infestation. Aphids cause the chalk Lettuce's leaves to have deformities.

Lanceleaf liveforever
A hardy and adaptable flowering succulent, lanceleaf liveforever or Dudleya lanceolata, will tolerate a variety of soil conditions. It can be grown indoors as a houseplant, or in rock gardens and dry areas. During the dry part of the summer, this plant will go dormant but once it rains, the shriveled leaves will plump up again.

Sea lettuce
Sea lettuce (Dudleya caespitosa) is an endemic Californian succulent species also commonly called sand lettuce and coast dudleya. Sea lettuce is valued in rock gardens and succulent gardens as an ornamental species. This species attracts the yellow hummingbird and grows best in well-draining soil.

Greene's liveforever
Dudleya greenei is a rare succulent plant known by the common names Greene's liveforever, or Greene's dudleya. It is endemic to the Channel Islands of California, where it grows along the cliffs of four of the eight islands.

Giant chalk dudleya
On the surface of Dudleya brittonii leaves lies a thick layer of spotless, white, snowy-looking powder. When the plant is not receiving enough light, the powder thins and the leaves completely spread out, losing their ornamental value. Dudleya brittonii has a strong root system, enabling the plant to grow impressively tall and making it well-suited to direct ground planting. Dudleya brittonii prefers a well-lit, warm, and well-ventilated growing environment.

Fingertips
Fingertips (Dudleya edulis) is a flowering succulent that is pollinated by flies and bees. Fingertips grows in coastal California and Baja California in rocky soils. This species is often planted for ground cover in hummingbird gardens. Fingertips plants also take the name Dead Man's Fingers.

Palmer's liveforever
A genus of succulent perennials from the American Southwest, palmer's liveforever are tough, leathery little plants. All have a chalky or sticky coating on their leaves, which acts as natural sunscreen. Several species have been embraced as nearly drought-proof ornamentals perfect for warm, dry climates. Unfortunately, several species are threatened in the wild by habitat destruction due to land development.

Candleholder liveforever
Each leaf is a pale green to pinkish-green spade shape with a sharp point. The unbranched stem is generally erect but often bending under the weight of the inflorescence it holds. The inflorescence branches and holds up to 25 knobby flowers on each branch. The flower has yellowish petals within its pink-tinged green sepals.

Dudleya pulverulenta subsp. arizonica
A genus of succulent perennials from the American Southwest, dudleya pulverulenta subsp. arizonica are tough, leathery little plants. All have a chalky or sticky coating on their leaves, which acts as natural sunscreen. Several species have been embraced as nearly drought-proof ornamentals perfect for warm, dry climates. Unfortunately, several species are threatened in the wild by habitat destruction due to land development.

Verity's liveforever
A genus of succulent perennials from the American Southwest, verity's liveforever are tough, leathery little plants. All have a chalky or sticky coating on their leaves, which acts as natural sunscreen. Several species have been embraced as nearly drought-proof ornamentals perfect for warm, dry climates. Unfortunately, several species are threatened in the wild by habitat destruction due to land development.

Dudleya abramsii subsp. parva
A genus of succulent perennials from the American Southwest, dudleya abramsii subsp. parva are tough, leathery little plants. All have a chalky or sticky coating on their leaves, which acts as natural sunscreen. Several species have been embraced as nearly drought-proof ornamentals perfect for warm, dry climates. Unfortunately, several species are threatened in the wild by habitat destruction due to land development.

Care Guide for Liveforevers





Scientific Classification
