Dudleya lanceolata
Lance-leaved dudleya
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Crassulaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Dudleya lanceolata (Lance-leaved dudleya) is a native California herb in the Crassulaceae family, recognized by leaf shape, wound response, and flower characteristics.
Lance-leaved dudleya is a California native perennial found in central coastal regions, including Santa Cruz County, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, southern California, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, desert mountains, and western Mojave Desert at elevations of 30 to 1,250 meters. Flowering from April to July, this succulent produces yellow to red flowers on tall peduncles 15 to 95 centimeters high. Growing in rosettes 3 to 35 centimeters wide with stems generally less than 4 centimeters tall, it forms compact clusters on rocky slopes. Its evergreen leaves are lanceolate, 5 to 30 centimeters long and 1 to 4 centimeters wide, with distinctive purple-red bases and acute tips. The plant's striking rosettes and colorful leaf bases make it a notable succulent in its dry, rocky habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 35 sympatric species - distinguished by leaf shape, wound response, and flower characteristics
Habitat and range
Habitat: Soil or slopes with broken rocks
Elevation: 30-1250 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura, San Diego, Riverside, Orange, Santa Barbara, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Mendocino, Tulare, San Benito, El Dorado, Santa Cruz
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Dudleya lanceolata blooms Apr-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 lanceolata native to California?
Yes. Dudleya lanceolata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Dudleya lanceolata bloom?
Dudleya lanceolata blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Dudleya lanceolata grow?
Dudleya lanceolata occurs in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura, San Diego, Riverside, Orange, Santa Barbara, Kern and other counties, at elevations of 30-1250 m.
What plant family does Dudleya lanceolata belong to?
Dudleya lanceolata is in the Crassulaceae family, genus Dudleya.
What habitat does Dudleya lanceolata grow in?
Dudleya lanceolata grows in Soil or slopes with broken rocks.
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.