Dudleya ingens aka Dudleya Ingens

Dudleya ingens is a succulent subshrub in the stonecrop family, Crassulaceae. Its common names include rock dudleya and rock liveforever. It comes from Baja California Norte in Mexico. There it grows on rolling hills and mesas. Kew places it in desert or dry shrubland. Plants vary in form, with larger ones reported farther south.

Growth is slow, and older plants can develop shrubby stems. The short trunk, or caudex, may stay single or branch. It reaches about 1 foot [0.3 metres], sometimes more. Old leaf bases cling around its upper part. Each rosette holds 20–40 thick, smooth, evergreen leaves. These range from yellow-green to deep green, sometimes with a pale wax coating. Leaves have sharp tips and parallel veins. Most reach 0.23–0.49 feet [0.07–0.15 metres] long. Some reach 0.66 feet [0.2 metres]. Touch can leave lasting marks on the wax coating.

Pink or yellowish flowers grow in loose, branched clusters. Small leaves also grow along the flower stems. Bloom falls mainly in June and July, sometimes starting in April. Hummingbirds and butterflies visit the flowers. The rosettes and flower clusters give this plant its garden value. Growers use it in pots, houses, and conservatories. It can also grow outdoors where winters stay mild and summers dry. Plants in pots remain smaller than those grown outdoors.

Give it plenty of sun and shade from hot midday rays. It needs sandy or gravelly soil that drains very well. A porous potting mix suits container plants. Fresh air also matters. Its growth follows the cooler, wetter part of the year. Summer brings a rest period, when outer leaves may dry and curl. LLIFLE advises watering in spring and autumn, but keeping it dry in summer. The plant tolerates summer heat and drought and prefers cool, moist winters.

Too much water during summer rest can rot the roots. Water trapped among the leaves can also cause rot. Planting at a slant helps water drain away. Poor light can stress the plant and encourage mealybugs. Dead leaves left on the stem may shelter pests. Growers differ on whether to remove them. Cut off old flower stalks to keep the plant neat. Seeds and offsets offer ways to raise new plants.