Green liveforever facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Green liveforever |
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| Dudleya virens ssp. hassei | |
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Dudleya
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| Species: |
virens
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Dudleya virens, also known as the green liveforever or bright green dudleya, is a special type of plant. It's a perennial succulent plant, which means it lives for many years and has thick, fleshy parts that store water. This plant belongs to the Crassulaceae family. You can find it in a few places along the coast of southern California and Baja California.
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Where the Green Liveforever Grows
This interesting succulent plant grows in specific coastal areas. You can find it in the Palos Verdes Hills in Los Angeles County. It also lives on several of the Channel Islands in California. Another place it calls home is Guadalupe Island, which is off the coast of the northwestern Baja California Peninsula in Mexico.
What the Green Liveforever Looks Like
The Dudleya virens has thick, fleshy leaves. These leaves are shaped like straps and can be 8 to 20 centimeters (about 3 to 8 inches) long. They are usually 1.5 to 3 centimeters (about 0.6 to 1.2 inches) wide. The leaves get narrower from their base and are mostly green. They grow in a circular pattern, forming a shape called a rosette.
The flowers of this plant are white. Each flower has five petals that are 7 to 10 millimeters (about 0.3 to 0.4 inches) long. These flowers bloom in April, May, and June. Hummingbirds often visit the flowers to drink their sweet nectar.
Different Types of Green Liveforever
Within the Dudleya virens species, there are a few different types called Subspecies. Each subspecies might have slightly different features or grow in different places.
- Dudleya virens subsp. extima – This type is found only on Guadalupe Island in Baja California. When a plant is found only in one specific area, it is called endemic.
- Dudleya virens subsp. hassei – This subspecies is endemic to Catalina Island in California.
- Dudleya virens subsp. insularis – You can find this type on Catalina Island, San Nicolas Island, and in the Palos Verdes Hills. It is endemic to California.
- Dudleya virens subsp. virens – This subspecies also grows on Catalina Island, San Clemente Island, and in the Palos Verdes Hills. It is also endemic to California.
Growing Green Liveforever
People often grow Dudleya virens as an ornamental plant. This means it's grown for its beauty in gardens. It's popular in the specialty native plant and succulent growing business.
This plant is great for containers and gardens that don't need much water. These are called drought tolerant landscapes. It's also used in habitat gardens, which are designed to attract local wildlife. The green liveforever likes soil that drains water well. It grows best in full sun or light shade.
