Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga
Cotyledon
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Family: Crassulaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga (Cotyledon) is a non-native California shrub in the Crassulaceae family, recognized by Only Cotyledon in California, representing a South African genus in the stonecrop family.
Cotyledon is a naturalized shrub found in central and southern California coastal areas including coastal bluffs and dunes at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces orange to red or pink tubular flowers with recurved lobes 10 to 15 millimeters long. Growing up to one meter tall with erect, branched stems, it develops distinctive glaucous obovate to wedge-shaped leaves clustered near stem tips. Its leaves are 5 to 18 centimeters long with rounded to obtuse tips, featuring a distinctive bluish-green coloration. The plant produces pendulous flower clusters on thick peduncles 20 to 40 centimeters long, with flowers initially hanging downward and becoming erect when setting fruit.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only Cotyledon in California, representing a South African genus in the stonecrop family
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal bluffs, dunes, or persisting from cultivation
Elevation: < 100 m
Outside California: native to southern Africa
Bloom period
Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga blooms Jun-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Kalanchoe: Cotyledon has just 2-4 leaf pairs per stem; Kalanchoe has many leaf pairs along longer stems.; vs Crassula: Cotyledon has tubular fused petals; Crassula has separate star-shaped petals.; vs Dudleya: Cotyledon has opposite leaves in pairs; Dudleya has rosette leaves arranged in spirals.; vs Echeveria: Cotyledon has 2-4 leaf pairs on woody stems; Echeveria has many leaves in ground rosettes.; vs Sedum: Cotyledon has fused tubular flowers; Sedum has separate star-shaped petals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga native to California?
No. Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga bloom?
Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga blooms Jun-Jul.
What plant family does Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga belong to?
Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga is in the Crassulaceae family, genus Cotyledon.
What habitat does Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga grow in?
Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga grows in Coastal bluffs, dunes, or persisting from cultivation.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.