Dudleya brittonii

Dudleya brittonii, also known as Britton's dudleya, Britton's liveforever, and giant chalk dudleya, is a succulent plant belonging to the Crassulaceae family. Native to the coastal regions of northern Baja California, Mexico, this plant comes in two forms. Both forms have yellow leaves arranged in a clustered rosette atop a reddish-purple peduncle. The white form of Dudleya brittonii has a chalky epicuticular wax that reflects light and reacts with water, while the green form is more commonly found across a wider range. This species is among the largest of the Dudleya plants. Dudleya brittonii is a variable, perennial succulent that forms a solitary rosette. Its leaves are oblong to lanceolate and spoon-shaped, measuring 15-22.5cm in length and 2.5-5cm in width. The rosette can reach a diameter of 30-45cm. In late winter to spring, the plant produces pale yellow flowers on a striking reddish-pink stem that can grow up to 60-90cm tall. Cultivated as an ornamental plant in well-drained rock gardens and as a potted succulent, Dudleya brittonii is sometimes referred to as the 'silver dollar plant'. The stem terminates in a rosette of slender leaves covered with a white, waxy coating called farina. However, some plants may lack this grey, waxy coating. These coated plants are more popular due to their neat and compact appearance, with juicy, spatulate leaves in a watery sea-green color. The flower stems are bright red and highly showy, adorned with starry, pink-bracted yellow or orange flowers. As the plant matures, old dead leaves hang on and form a rough "tutu" on the main stem. This species closely resembles Dudleya pulverulenta, a chalky gray echeveria, but Dudleya brittonii grows larger, eventually forming a solitary rosette up to 50cm in diameter.