Dudleya virens
Encyclopedia
Dudleya virens, the Green liveforever or Bright green dudleya, is an uncommon species of perennial
, succulent plant
in the family Crassulaceae
, native to California
and Baja California
, growing in Los Angeles County, the Channel Islands, and Guadalupe Island
(where subspecies
extima is endemic).
Hummingbirds visit the flowers for their nectar.
trade and available as an ornamental plant. It grows best in full sun or light shade inland, preferring well-drained soil.
Perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter lived annuals and biennials. The term is sometimes misused by commercial gardeners or horticulturalists to describe only herbaceous perennials...
, succulent plant
Succulent plant
Succulent plants, also known as succulents or fat plants, are water-retaining plants adapted to arid climates or soil conditions. Succulent plants store water in their leaves, stems, and also in roots...
in the family Crassulaceae
Crassulaceae
Crassulaceae, or the orpine family, are a family of dicotyledons. They store water in their succulent leaves. They are found worldwide, but mostly occur in the Northern Hemisphere and southern Africa, typically in dry and/or cold areas where water may be scarce...
, native to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, growing in Los Angeles County, the Channel Islands, and Guadalupe Island
Guadalupe Island
Guadalupe Island, or Isla Guadalupe is a volcanic island located 241 kilometers off the west coast of Mexico's Baja California peninsula and some 400 kilometers southwest of the city of Ensenada in Baja California state, in the Pacific Ocean...
(where subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
extima is endemic).
Description
The Dudleya virens leaves are fleshy and strap-shaped, 8-20 cm long and 1.5-3 cm broad, tapering from the base (or from near middle) and are mostly green. They are arranged in a rosette. The flowers are white, with five petals 7-10 mm long; they are produced in April, May, and June.Hummingbirds visit the flowers for their nectar.
Cultivation
Dudleya virens is cultivated in the specialty horticultureHorticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
trade and available as an ornamental plant. It grows best in full sun or light shade inland, preferring well-drained soil.