Dudleya virens subsp. insularis
Island green dudleya, Island Green Dudleya
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. insularis (Island green dudleya) is a native California herb in the Crassulaceae family, recognized by largest rosettes with broad triangular leaves.
Island green dudleya is a rare California native perennial ranked 1B.2 by CNPS, found in southern California coastal regions and southern Channel Islands near San Pedro and on San Nicolas and Santa Catalina islands in rocky coastal habitats at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces white flowers with red to orange-brown keels in clusters emerging from tall stems. Growing in distinctive rosettes 10 to 25 centimeters wide with erect stems 2 to 6 centimeters thick, it forms dense clusters of succulents. Its leaves number 20 to 50, triangular-lanceolate and glaucous, measuring 6 to 25 centimeters long and 10 to 32 millimeters wide, with a slightly obtuse tip. The plant's distinctive blue-green rosettes and coastal island habitat make it a unique succulent endemic to southern California's island environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 22 sympatric species - largest rosettes with broad triangular leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocks, cliffs
Elevation: < 200 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Ventura
Bloom period
Dudleya virens subsp. insularis 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. insularis native to California?
Yes. Dudleya virens subsp. insularis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Dudleya virens subsp. insularis bloom?
Dudleya virens subsp. insularis blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Dudleya virens subsp. insularis grow?
Dudleya virens subsp. insularis occurs in Los Angeles, Ventura, at elevations of < 200 m.
What plant family does Dudleya virens subsp. insularis belong to?
Dudleya virens subsp. insularis is in the Crassulaceae family, genus Dudleya.
Is Dudleya virens subsp. insularis rare or endangered?
Dudleya virens subsp. insularis carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Dudleya virens subsp. virens — Bright green dudleya
- Dudleya viscida — Sticky dudleya
- Dudleya abramsii — Abrams' dudleya
- Dudleya abramsii subsp. abramsii
- Dudleya abramsii subsp. affinis — San bernardino mountains dudleya
- Dudleya abramsii subsp. bettinae — Betty's dudleya
- Rhodiola integrifolia subsp. integrifolia — Western roseroot
- Rhodiola sp.
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.