Dudleya virens subsp. hassei

Catalina Island dudleya

Dudleya virens — parent species of Dudleya virens subsp. hassei

Photo: parent species Dudleya virens · (c) Casey H. Richart, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence

Family: Crassulaceae · Type: Herb · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Dudleya virens subsp. hassei (Catalina Island dudleya) is a native California herb in the Crassulaceae family, recognized by narrow round leaves and sturdy flower stalks.

Catalina Island dudleya is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in southern Channel Islands, specifically on Santa Catalina Island, growing on rocks and cliffs at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from April to June, this succulent produces white flowers with rosy-marked keels in compact clusters. Growing in rosettes 4 to 8 centimeters wide with ascending to erect leaves, it forms dense clusters with glaucous linear-oblong leaves 15 to 30 centimeters long and 5 to 10 millimeters wide. Its thick leaves are nearly rounded in cross-section, with a base 8 to 15 millimeters wide, creating a distinctive blue-green succulent form. The plant's flowering stalks rise 10 to 30 centimeters tall, supporting 3 to 15 delicate white blossoms.

Identification and appearance

Key characters: 12 sympatric species - narrow round leaves and sturdy flower stalks

Habitat and range

Habitat: Rocks, cliffs

Elevation: < 200 m

California counties: Los Angeles, Orange

Bloom period

Dudleya virens subsp. hassei blooms Apr-Jun.

Conservation status

CNPS 1B.2

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 virens subsp. hassei native to California?

Yes. Dudleya virens subsp. hassei is native to California (recorded as native).

When does Dudleya virens subsp. hassei bloom?

Dudleya virens subsp. hassei blooms Apr-Jun.

Where in California does Dudleya virens subsp. hassei grow?

Dudleya virens subsp. hassei occurs in Los Angeles, Orange, at elevations of < 200 m.

What plant family does Dudleya virens subsp. hassei belong to?

Dudleya virens subsp. hassei is in the Crassulaceae family, genus Dudleya.

Is Dudleya virens subsp. hassei rare or endangered?

Dudleya virens subsp. hassei carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.

Related species

Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.

All Dudleya species · All Crassulaceae

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.