Fingertips Live-forever (Dudleya edulis) is a succulent native to coastal southern California that grows in rocky slopes and hillsides below 4000 feet. It has cylindrical finger-like leaves that are blue-green to white-green and grows upright from a low stem. In late spring it produces pale pink flowers on slender branching stalks. It is often used as a ground cover or in pots and prefers light to part shade with occasional summer water but tolerates drought. It provides habitat for hummingbirds and other birds and small animals.

1. * Fingertips Live-forever – Dudleya edulis
(DUD-lee-a ED-yoo-lis)
Family: Crassulaceae (Stonecrop Family)
Native to: Riverside & Orange counties south to northern Baja; on rocky slopes, hillsides, ledges
below 4000',
in coastal sage scrub, chaparral.
clumping succulent mature height: to 1 ft.
Evergreen/summer dormant succulent with cylindrical, finger-like leaves.
white-green, fairly upright from a low stem (caudex).
Growth characteristics:
mature width: to
1 ft.
Leaves are blue-green to
Blooms in late spring (May-June). Flowers on slender, branched flowering stalks
that are pale pink in color. Flower small, pale yellow to almost white, often with prominent redorange anthers.
Fruit is a dry capsule, swollen at base, that splits when ripe.
Blooms/fruits:
Uses in the garden: Often used as a ground cover (small areas) or in pots and planters. Will fill in
around boulders on rocky willsides or in rock gardens. Good choice for slopes. Attractive foliage
color and growth habit combine well with other succulents.
Even sometimes use as houseplant.
Leaves & stems can be eaten raw – somewhat chalky aftertaste.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native succulents with similar habit.
Attracts: Excellent hummingbird habitat. Other birds, small animals eat seeds, leaves for water.
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Light to part-shade best, particularly in hot gardens; afternoon shade is great.
Any well-drained soil, but sandy is great. Local pHs are fine (6.0-8.0)
More tolerant than other Dudleyas. Takes a little summer water (Zone 1-2, even 2
in sandy soils or pots) but fine with none (Zone 1). Withhold water in late summer.
None.
Management:
Pretty easy to grow. Don’t overwater and no summer overhead water.
Propagation: from seed: yes, not easy
by leaf cuttings/offsets:
relatively easy
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 2, 8, 13, 20
2/13/11
* Native to CA but not to Western L.A. Co.
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