RN-DUD-00007

verified unverified

DocumentedCommonly cultivated

Dudleya edulis (Nutt.) Moran

Fingertips Dudleya / Mission Lettuce

Dudleya edulis, Fingertips or Edible Liveforever, is a Dudleya of completely atypical appearance within the genus: its leaves are erect, cylindrical-subterete, and very long (up to 30 cm), resembling an Agave or small Aloe more than a typical Dudleya rosette. It is native to the coastal zone of southern California and northern Baja California, growing on sandstone and granite cliffs above the Pacific.

chevron_right edit_note Proposed edits auto-approved at +3 net votes

No pending proposals for this section.

CC BY-SA 3.0

height

Height

15–40 cm (roseta); inflorescencias a 40 cm

water_drop

Watering

Light fortnightly in summer (tolerant); normal fortnightly October to May

wb_sunny

Sunlight

5–8 hours coastal sun

thermometer

Temperature

Optimal 8–26 °C; tolerates -4 °C

Family

Crassulaceae

Genus

Dudleya

Conservation Status

Generally Least Concern (LC); some island populations (Santa Catalina Island) are more restricted and locally protected.

Growth Habit

Open, erect rosette 15–40 cm; short to moderate stem; can branch and form rosette colonies in wide crevices.

Overview

Category	Classification
Family	Crassulaceae
Genus	Dudleya
Growth Habit	Open, erect rosette 15–40 cm; short to moderate stem; can branch and form rosette colonies in wide crevices.
Conservation Status	Generally Least Concern (LC); some island populations (Santa Catalina Island) are more restricted and locally protected.
pH Target	5.5 – 7.0
Type	Coastal sandstone to granitic, well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic; tolerates greater soil depth than other Dudleya.

Origin & Habitat

Native Region

Suroeste de California hasta el noroeste de Baja California, México

Ecosystem

Coastal scrub and chaparral on arid rocky soils; desert or dry shrubland biome

Morphology

Leaves

Linear-subterete to cylindrical-acuminate leaves 10–30 cm long and 0.5–1.5 cm diameter, narrow and very elongated; deep green to grey without farina or with very sparse farina; acute apex; entire margin; totally different from the spatulate pattern of the rest of the genus.

eco

Stem

Short to moderate caudex, branching over time; grey epidermis; can form colonies of 20–30 rosettes in wide crevices.

eco

Flowers

Inflorescences 20–40 cm; tubular flowers cream-white to whitish-pink, 1–1.5 cm (the palest in the genus); May to July flowering.

eco

Roots

Moderately deep root system, well developed for anchoring in coastal sandstone; tolerates somewhat deeper substrate than other Dudleya.

eco

chevron_right edit_note Proposed edits auto-approved at +3 net votes

No pending proposals for this section.

Requirements

Light

Full coastal sun to light semi-shade; the cylindrical leaf form reduces surface area exposed to midday sun, making it more tolerant than other Dudleya to direct summer sun.

Watering

Moderate summer dormancy; can tolerate very light fortnightly watering in summer unlike other large Dudleya; autumn to spring, normal fortnightly watering.

Temperature

Optimal 8–26 °C; tolerates coastal frosts to -4 °C; better dry heat tolerance than flat-leafed Dudleya due to lower transpiring surface of cylindrical leaves.

Soil

Ground sandstone or granite 50%, silica sand 30%, perlite 20%; tolerates somewhat deeper substrate than other congeners.

Recommended Substrate

Soil & Substrate

landslide

pH Target 5.5 – 7.0

Type

Coastal sandstone to granitic, well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic; tolerates greater soil depth than other Dudleya.

groups Beneficial Associations

Dudleya lanceolataCakile edentulaCarpobrotus edulis (invasiveavoid in restoration)Deinandra fasciculata.

chevron_right edit_note Proposed edits auto-approved at +3 net votes

No pending proposals for this section.

Propagation Strategy

Seeds Medium

Season: Autumn Rooting: 2–5 weeks (germination)

Success Rate 55–65%

1 Harvest seeds when capsules ripen in summer; store dry until autumn.
2 Surface-sow on sand + pumice mix without organic matter.
3 Maintain at 15–20 °C with indirect light; moisten by capillary action.
4 Germination in 2–5 weeks; keep almost dry through the first summer.

Offset division Medium

Season: Autumn to spring Rooting: 3–5 weeks

Success Rate 60–70%

1 Identify offsets at the base during autumn–spring.
2 Detach with a sterile blade, retaining any roots present.
3 Callus for 5–7 days and plant in very draining substrate.
4 First gentle watering after one week; place in semi-shade until rooted.

check_circle

Key Tip

The cylindrical finger-like leaves are unique in the genus; do not confuse with similar-looking Sedum or Crassula.

warning

Common Mistake

Watering in summer, confusing the cylindrical form with summer succulents that tolerate more moisture.

calendar_month

Repotting

Every 3–4 years in autumn. The fleshy roots do not tolerate frequent disturbance.

eco

Fertilizer

Minimal fertilization: one application of mineral fertilizer (5-10-10) diluted to 25% in autumn. No fertilizers in summer.

Uses & Applications

Uses

Coastal native plant gardenstall decorative pots (vegetable asparagus type)collection of atypical Dudleyahistorical consumption by indigenous peoples.

Parts Used

Tender leaves (historical food of Kumeyaay and Luiseño peoples); seeds; colony offsets.

warning

Precautions / Toxicity

Considered non-toxic and historically edible (the epithet «edulis» means «edible» in Latin); indigenous peoples consumed them raw or roasted. No toxic compounds reported.

chevron_right edit_note Proposed edits auto-approved at +3 net votes

No pending proposals for this section.

format_quote

science

"The epithet «edulis» distinguishes this species from all Dudleya congeners: it is the only one whose historical human consumption is consistently documented in California ethnobotanical literature. The cylindrical leaves contain malic acid at elevated concentrations (diurnal CAM metabolism), giving them a distinctively sour-refreshing flavor."

Researcher Notes — RN-DUD-00007

chevron_right edit_note Proposed edits auto-approved at +3 net votes

No pending proposals for this section.

Scientific Integrity

🟡 Medium

50% 0 votes

Vote to help validate this record

link

Sources

Loading…

forum

Discussion

progress_activity

Disclaimer

This species record is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Jardín Roca Negra does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the data. Content is community-curated and may be subject to revision; it should not replace advice from a qualified botanist. This species may be toxic, invasive, or subject to legal restrictions — verify before handling or cultivating. Jardín Roca Negra accepts no liability for any harm arising from reliance on this information. Images are reproduced under Creative Commons or equivalent free licenses; credits are noted below each image.