Last updated on August 25th, 2023 at 12:20 pm
Dudleya can be used for flower arrangements, or to fill in gaps where there are not enough flowers. It’s a good idea to use plants from the same area as your other flowers when you’re arranging them because of how they will look together.
One of the most interesting species is dudleya aurea, also known as Sauvage’s dudleya. It grows on cliffs and has beautiful yellow flowers that are just slightly lighter than those found in Dudleys such as Dudleya stolonifera or Dudleya pulverulenta.
This plant is found at elevations of 1500 to 4000 meters (4921 – 13124 feet) and are characterized by having an underground tuber or caudex, in addition to a rosette of leaves that have a fleshy texture.
This plant is also the only dudleya with yellow flowers. There are nine varieties of the plant. They are Dudleya:
- Erythrodes which has yellow petals,
- Aurea which has yellow flowers,
- Pulverulent with no spots on its leaves,
- Striata whose stripes are white and so on
All dudleyas require bright light to grow well. If you live in an area that doesn’t get much direct sunlight then use a south-facing window or one with lots of artificial lighting. They also require a lot of water so don’t let the soil dry out for long periods of time. It’s best if they’re watered at least twice per week by soaking them until the excess water flows out the bottom drainage holes – this ensures they’ll be able to absorb all the moisture needed for healthy growth.
Description of Dudleya
The dudleya in my garden bloom from December up until August, depending on how sunny the location is. Even when they’re not blooming, their pink stems make them easy to spot among other foliage.
They also provide an excellent groundcover if you happen to have too many! They work well under bushes or around trees where nothing else will survive and they love sun-drenched spots.
If you’re looking for a succulent that can survive in shade and still thrive, dudleya is the one to go with! I recommend these plants for those who have limited space or want to grow something beautiful but low-maintenance at their house too.
They are also excellent as container plants because they don’t need very much water once established, just keep an eye on them and give them some extra care during winter months when it’s dry outside. They make great gifts if given alongside other succulents; like cacti, they also prefer sandy soil so adding sand or gravel might be necessary before transplanting them into pots.
How to propagate a dudleya
Dudleya are hardy succulents that can be propagated in two ways:
- Cuttings – When the plant is cut, you want to get as many leaves on the cutting as possible. The best time for this propagation method is during the spring and summer months when it has lots of fast-growing succulent leaves.
- Seeds – Their seeds can also be collected during any time of the year and planted as soon as they are ripe (when a seed pod is dry). The only caveat with this method is that it will take quite some time, between two years and ten years, for the plants to grow.
General Care Information
Light requirement
Dudleyas are shade plants in their natural habitat. They need full sun to thrive and will be scorched by too much direct sunlight.
- Full Sun: They grow best when they have continuous, strong light that is partially filtered through the foliage of other trees or shrubs
- Partial Shade: They can grow in dappled shade as long as the light is not too bright
- Bright Shade: plants that need full sun or partial shade will be scorched by the shaded, dappled sunlight in which they thrive.
Soil requirements
Dudleya, like their close relative the dandelion is a calciphile. They prefer shallow soil that’s on top of limestone or other rocks rich in calcium and magnesium – so they can draw these important nutrients from them to help form their thick leaves.
They also need well-draining soil, so the mix is often half coarse sand and half either peat moss or potting soil.
Additionally, it should be watered in intervals to maintain its moisture levels.
These plants are not tolerant of “heavy” soils with clay content greater than 30%. They are also sensitive to too much water, so they do not grow well in droughty conditions.
Watering
Dudleyas are succulents that require a lot of water, especially in droughts. In some cases, they need to be watered only once every two weeks or so during the dry season and up to twice daily in the summer months.
This is because their leaves act as a waxy barrier to store water and keep them dry. Having said that they do not tolerate overwatering, which is why they are often called “sponge plants”.
If you place your plant in a pot with drainage holes, then the soil will need to be constantly monitored for signs of being too wet or dry.
Temperature
The optimal temperature for dudleya succulents is between 45 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
They will die if the temperature changes by more than 20 degrees either way of this range.
Humidity
Humidity below 45% can kill your plant. Humidity above 95% will also have lethal effects on them, but to a lesser degree than when it is lower.
The optimal humidity for dudleya plants is between 60 and 80%.
Fertilizer
Dudleya do not need to be fertilized often. They will benefit from once a year of fertilizer (usually in the fall). They should be fertilized with organic, slow-release plant food that is high in nitrogen and phosphorous. They can also take liquid fertilizer drenches.
If they are not being fertilized, they will die within two years from the lack of nutrients.
Pruning
Dudleyas can be pruned to keep them healthy and to encourage bushier growth. They should not require any duteous maintenance other than occasional pruning, as they are resilient plants that will grow back from the roots if cut off at ground level.
Growth rate
Dudleyas have a slow growth rate, but this is because they are not always in ideal conditions. If they get enough sunlight and the temperature stays between 40 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, then they will grow at an average of one inch per year.
Repotting
Dudleyas produce a lot of new roots and duds. They will need to be repotted every year or two, depending on the size of the pot.
Repot them when they have outgrown their current container by one inch in diameter from soil level. It is important for dudleyas to be transferred to a pot that is one size larger so their roots are not constricted.
They should be moved from small pots, for example, five-inch to an eight-inch container, every one or two years.
If dudleyas have too many roots and duds, then they might need more than one container.
Toxicity
Dudleyas are toxic to dogs that eat them. They can be eaten by humans and cats without any problems, but they should not consume them often because dudleya have a higher concentration of oxalates than other plants. So, they should be consumed sparingly by people and animals.
If dudleyas are ingested by dogs they will become sick with vomiting or diarrhea within hours. They might pass out if the dose was large enough.
Pests and diseases
Dudleya is resistant to pests, but they will get powdery mildew if the environment is too humid or dry.
Avoid powdery mildew with humidity levels below 40% (ideal), 50-65% on a regular basis, and 75+ when it’s very hot outside.
