Arboretum Spotlight: Coast dudleya can be interesting water-saver

This is one part in a weekly series featuring the UC Davis Arboretum’s “40 Plants You (Probably) Have Never Heard of – But Will Love,” 40 can’t-fail, easy-care, low-water plants well adapted to our region but hard to find.

Coast dudleya

Dudleya caespitosa

Size: Clumps to 1 foot high and wide.

Bloom season: Yellow-orange flowers in spring and summer.

Exposure: Prefers partial sun with afternoon shade.

Pruning needs: None except to shape as desired.

Water needs: Very low water; once established, irrigate once or twice a month.

Snapshot: Dudleya is a coastal California native succulent that has thick, fingerlike leaves that form frosty gray-white rosettes. Like most succulents, it needs good drainage and some sun, but dudleya also needs protection from direct afternoon sun in summer in the Central Valley. Over time, it grows new side rosettes that can be removed and rooted to create new plants. This succulents works well in containers or hanging baskets. The flowers will attract hummingbirds.

For more on “40 Plants,” click on arboretum.ucdavis.edu.

This story was originally published July 3, 2015 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Arboretum Spotlight: Coast dudleya can be interesting water-saver."