Dudleya arizonica
Arizona chalk dudleya
(c) Evrytte Carlson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Evrytte Carlson · licence
Family: Crassulaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Dudleya arizonica (Arizona chalk dudleya) is a native California perennial in the Crassulaceae family, recognized by large white rosettes and flower color diagnostic.
Arizona chalk dudleya is a California native perennial found in the Peninsular Ranges, Desert Mountains, and Desert Sonoran bioregions on rocky slopes at elevations of 600 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces red or yellow flowers with petals 9 to 15 millimeters long, fused for 4 to 8 millimeters. Growing in dense, white rosettes 10 to 25 centimeters wide, it forms compact clusters with stems 1 to 4 centimeters thick. Its evergreen leaves are thick and glaucous, ranging 15 to 25 per rosette, oblong to oblong-obovate, 5 to 15 centimeters long and 1 to 5 centimeters wide with long-pointed tips. The plant produces an impressive inflorescence with peduncles 15 to 60 centimeters tall bearing 3 to 6 ascending branches with multiple flowers.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species, large white rosettes and flower color diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes
Elevation: 600-1500 m
California counties: San Diego, San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside, Inyo
Outside California: to Utah, Arizona, northwestern Mexico
Bloom period
Dudleya arizonica blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Curio: Dudleya has thick succulent leaves in rosettes; Curio has thin, cylindrical or string-like leaves.; vs Echeveria: Dudleya flower stalks emerge from leaf axils; Echeveria flowers emerge from rosette center.; vs Sedum: Dudleya forms distinct basal rosettes; Sedum grows as spreading mats or upright stems without rosettes.; vs Aeonium: Dudleya has smooth leaf edges; Aeonium has tiny hairs along leaf margins.; vs Carpobrotus: Dudleya has rosettes under 30cm; Carpobrotus has sprawling succulent stems over 1m long.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dudleya arizonica native to California?
Yes. Dudleya arizonica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Dudleya arizonica bloom?
Dudleya arizonica blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Dudleya arizonica grow?
Dudleya arizonica occurs in San Diego, San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside, Inyo, at elevations of 600-1500 m.
What plant family does Dudleya arizonica belong to?
Dudleya arizonica is in the Crassulaceae family, genus Dudleya.
What habitat does Dudleya arizonica grow in?
Dudleya arizonica grows in Rocky slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.