Dudleya cymosa subsp. ovatifolia
Santa monica dudleya, Santa Monica Dudleya
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Crassulaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Threatened
Dudleya cymosa subsp. ovatifolia (Santa monica dudleya) is a native California herb in the Crassulaceae family, recognized by dark green/red coloration and broad leaf shape diagnostic.
Santa monica dudleya is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in southern Transverse Ranges in the Santa Monica Mountains and Peninsular Ranges in the Santa Ana Mountains on shaded, rocky outcrops and slopes at elevations of 150 to 500 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces bright yellow flowers with petals strongly recurved at the tips, occasionally with rare orange or red-marked variations. Growing in small rosettes 1 to 6 centimeters wide with stems 1 to 1.5 centimeters wide, it forms compact clusters of succulent foliage. Its leaves are typically 6 to 10 in number, 2 to 5 centimeters long and 15 to 25 millimeters wide, with an oblong to ovate shape, dark green on top and reddish underneath, featuring an acuminate to mucronate tip. The inflorescence is slightly asymmetric with peduncles 3 to 15 centimeters long and 3 to 3.5 millimeters wide, bearing 3 to 4 branches with 1 to 3 flowers each.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species, dark green/red coloration and broad leaf shape diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Shaded, rocky outcrops and slopes
Elevation: 150-500 m
Bloom period
Dudleya cymosa subsp. ovatifolia blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Threatened
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 cymosa subsp. ovatifolia native to California?
Yes. Dudleya cymosa subsp. ovatifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Dudleya cymosa subsp. ovatifolia bloom?
Dudleya cymosa subsp. ovatifolia blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Dudleya cymosa subsp. ovatifolia belong to?
Dudleya cymosa subsp. ovatifolia is in the Crassulaceae family, genus Dudleya.
Is Dudleya cymosa subsp. ovatifolia rare or endangered?
Dudleya cymosa subsp. ovatifolia carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
What habitat does Dudleya cymosa subsp. ovatifolia grow in?
Dudleya cymosa subsp. ovatifolia grows in Shaded, rocky outcrops and slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.