Dudleya cymosa subsp. pumila
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Crassulaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Dudleya cymosa subsp. pumila is a native California herb in the Crassulaceae family.
Dudleya cymosa subsp. pumila is a California native perennial found in southern coastal ranges, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges on rocky cliffs and slopes at elevations of 50 to 2,600 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces bright yellow to red flowers in radially symmetric inflorescences with terminal branches 1 to 3 centimeters long. Growing with rosettes 4 to 10 centimeters wide, it forms low-spreading clusters with erect peduncles 5 to 30 centimeters tall. Its distinctive leaves are diamond-shaped to spoon-shaped, 1.5 to 5 centimeters long, with margins folded upward at the widest point and short-acuminate tips. During dry periods, the plant produces few green leaves that can become glaucous, creating a distinctive succulent appearance.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky cliffs, slopes
Elevation: 50-2600 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Monterey, Orange, Riverside, Inyo, Kern, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Napa
Bloom period
Dudleya cymosa subsp. pumila 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 cymosa subsp. pumila native to California?
Yes. Dudleya cymosa subsp. pumila is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Dudleya cymosa subsp. pumila bloom?
Dudleya cymosa subsp. pumila blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Dudleya cymosa subsp. pumila grow?
Dudleya cymosa subsp. pumila occurs in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Monterey, Orange, Riverside, Inyo, Kern, San Luis Obispo and other counties, at elevations of 50-2600 m.
What plant family does Dudleya cymosa subsp. pumila belong to?
Dudleya cymosa subsp. pumila is in the Crassulaceae family, genus Dudleya.
What habitat does Dudleya cymosa subsp. pumila grow in?
Dudleya cymosa subsp. pumila grows in Rocky cliffs, slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.