Sun-loving, rock-dwelling native of NW Baja California's Pacific coast (also found in near-coastal locations and on Todos Santos and Coronado Islands). The only part of the plant that you usually see is the tuft of inch-long gray/green/blue/brown leaves, but mature plants can grow a (relatively) extended stem beneath, covered by dead leaves and dry flower stalks. D. attenuata survives on coastal fog and winter rains in a place that has very little water otherwise, but no temperature extremes either.

Of the various "finger" Dudleyas I've seen, this one has the smallest leaves (though low light conditions will stretch them out in a hurry, and individual clones may vary). Will flower and branch profusely when doing well. Very easy to start from cuttings in winter. A small cutting will grow to fill a 6" pot in about a year here in its native climate. Flowers are open (flat) and may be white or pale yellow, with a pale pink nectar guide.

The generally smaller, whitish-flowered northern form of D. attenuata (orcutti) may be found in older publications as a species. The large, rosette-forming D. brittonii (white and green forms) grows in many of the same coastal and near-coastal locations. Natural hybrids between the two species do exist (D. x semiteres, which may also be a hybrid with D. candida) and have an intermediate phenotype. Toward the northern part of its range D. attenuata also grows with other Dudleyas.

D. attenuata (like many Dudleyas) is frequently misidentified in pictures. It also can look dramatically different depending on growth conditions. Should be grown in very strong light (up to day long sun) for best color and form.

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