Lanceleaf liveforever facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lanceleaf liveforever
Scientific classification
Genus:	Dudleya
Species:	lanceolata
Synonyms
Dudleya brauntonii Dudleya congesta Dudleya goldmanii Dudleya lurida

Dudleya lanceolata is a really interesting plant known as the lanceleaf liveforever. It's a type of succulent plant, which means it has thick, fleshy parts that store water. This helps it survive in dry places. You can find this plant growing naturally in the mountains of Southern California and Baja California. It often grows in rocky areas and on hillsides.

About the Lanceleaf Liveforever Plant

Growing in rock, in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

This Dudleya plant has leaves that are thick and pointed. Their shape and size can be different from one plant to another. Some plants have flat, spade-shaped leaves that grow in a circle close to the ground, like a rosette. Others have longer, thicker leaves that grow in bunches.

The plant usually grows to be about 30 centimeters (1 foot) tall and wide. It has a stem that stands up straight. This stem holds a special flower cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster branches out and can have up to 20 flowers on each branch.

Flowers of the Dudleya Plant

The flowers of the lanceleaf liveforever are usually very colorful. They can be bright yellow, pink, or red. The bottom part of the flowers, near where they connect to the stem, is often a pale green color. These pretty flowers add a splash of color to the rocky landscapes where they grow.

Growing Lanceleaf Liveforever

Dudleya lanceolata is a popular plant for gardens, especially in areas with dry climates. Special plant nurseries grow it to sell. People like to use it in rock gardens because it looks great among stones and needs little water.

It's also grown as a potted plant, which means you can keep it in a container. Since it's a native plant to California, it's also used in natural landscaping. This means using plants that naturally grow in an area to create a garden that fits its surroundings.

Images for kids

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  A green-leaved plant

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  A sand-covered, white-leaved plant at Torrey Pines State Reserve

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  Yellow flowers with green sepals

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  Red flowers with pink sepals

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  Orange-red flowers with gray and glaucous sepals

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  Orange-yellow flowers with a Yellow-Faced Bumble Bee (Bombus vosnesenskii) pollinator

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  Yellow flowers, gray sepals, and a pink peduncle. Note the circinate terminal branches with budding flowers

See also

In Spanish: Dudleya lanceolata para niños