Dudleya pulverulenta aka Chalk Dudleya

Taxonomy

Dudleya pulverulenta, also known as chalk lettuce, chalk dudleya, and chalk liveforever, is a hardy and easy-to-care evergreen succulent. Its silvery, waxy rosette is one of the largest in the Dudleya family and may greatly contrast with its habitat. It is also known for its advanced inflorescence, consisting of pendant, hummingbird pollinated flowers, with the longest corolla and highest nectar output in the genus. It has the largest range of all the Dudleya, being found from southern Monterey County in California to the Sierra de San Borja in southern Baja California. This undemanding plant grows in rosettes with pale green silvery shaded spoon-shaped leaves and bears many pendulum-like flowers that range from white and pale green to pinkish and red petals arranged in flower spikes. It flourishes around spring, usually from May to July. A native of Southern North America and Northern Mexico, it is virtually disease-free and does not need much water to thrive. Chalk Dudleya is a relatively rare houseplant that does best in long-lasting, direct light and should be less than 1 foot from a window. Despite being an evergreen, it usually only lives up to 3 years when cultivated. Overall, Dudleya pulverulenta is a beautiful and unique succulent that will dazzle you with both its silvery leaves and numerous flower spikes.

Common names

Chalk Dudleya, Chalk Live Forever, Chalk Liveforever

How to care for Chalk Dudleya

Difficulty

If you're looking for a plant that offers a moderate level of challenge, Chalk Dudleya is a great choice to test your gardening skills.

Water

Chalk Dudleya does best in dry soil and should only be watered sparingly.

Lighting

Chalk Dudleya requires abundant, bright, and direct light to thrive. The best placement for this plant is within one foot of a window to ensure it receives enough light. If you live in an area with more extreme weather, such as hot summers or cold winters, you may need to adjust the placement of the plant accordingly. During hot summer months, it is important to place the plant away from full sun, as this can cause the leaves to yellow or burn. During cold winter months, it is best to move the plant closer to the window to take advantage of the extra light that can help it survive. By keeping an eye on the current weather in your area, you can make sure your Chalk Live Forever is always in the right place to thrive.

Toxicity

There is no verified data on the toxicity of this plant in the records of Ploi. If any person, including yourself, a family member, or a pet, consume plant material with an uncertain toxicity level, it is advisable to seek the advice of a healthcare expert.

Growth-pattern

New growth will sprout from the top of the Chalk Dudleya as it grows vertically.

Region of origin

Chalk Dudleya’s native range is South-western N. America - California to Arizona.


More info:
Wikipedia