Taxon Report

Dudleya nesiotica (Moran) Moran

Santa Cruz Island dudleya

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Dudleya nesiotica, commonly known as Santa Cruz Island dudleya, is a perennial herb in the Crassulaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Coastal bluff scrub, and Coastal scrub, growing at elevations from 10 to 50 meters. Dudleya nesiotica is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Dudleya nesiotica (Moran) Moran
Common Name:	Santa Cruz Island dudleya
Family:	Crassulaceae
Element Code:	PDCRA040J0
USDA Plants Symbol:	DUNE
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: Apr-Jun	Apr-Jun
Elevation:	10-50 (35-165)
General Habitats:	Coastal bluff scrub, Coastal scrub
Microhabitat:	Clay, Gravelly (sometimes), Rocky (sometimes)
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.1
Global Rank:	G1
State Rank:	S1
State List:	CR
Fed List:	FD
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG; SB_SBBG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	2
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	1
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	1

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Santa Barbara (SBA)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Santa Cruz Island A (3311987)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	3
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	1	50 %
Erosion/runoff	1	50%
Non-native plant impacts	1	50%
Road/trail construction/maint.	1	50%

Notes



Known from only one occurrence near Frasier Pt. Threatened by non-native plants, erosion, and habitat degradation. Possibly threatened by climate change. See Desert Plant Life 22:99 (1951) for original description.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 9 November 2025].