Dudleya nesiotica
Santa cruz island dudleya, Santa Cruz Island Dudleya
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Matson · licence
Family: Crassulaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Delisted
Dudleya nesiotica (Santa cruz island dudleya) is a native California herb in the Crassulaceae family, recognized by unique fragrant flowers and very restricted location.
Santa cruz island dudleya is a rare California native perennial ranked 1B.1 by CNPS, found in the northern Channel Islands at Santa Cruz Island's Fraser Point on coastal bluffs at elevations below 50 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces white to pale yellow flowers in small clusters with a musky-sweet fragrance. Growing in small rosettes 1 to 6 centimeters wide with a short 1 to 3 centimeter stem, it forms compact clusters with distinctive coloration. Its thick, oblanceolate leaves are 2.5 to 5 centimeters long, featuring a purple-red base and a glaucous appearance, with leaf tips ranging from acute to obtuse. The plant's leaves are deciduous in summer, revealing a unique seasonal transformation.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species - unique fragrant flowers and very restricted location
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal bluffs
Elevation: < 50 m
California counties: Santa Barbara
Bloom period
Dudleya nesiotica blooms Mar-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Delisted
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 nesiotica native to California?
Yes. Dudleya nesiotica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Dudleya nesiotica bloom?
Dudleya nesiotica blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Dudleya nesiotica grow?
Dudleya nesiotica occurs in Santa Barbara, at elevations of < 50 m.
What plant family does Dudleya nesiotica belong to?
Dudleya nesiotica is in the Crassulaceae family, genus Dudleya.
Is Dudleya nesiotica rare or endangered?
Dudleya nesiotica carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · 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.