It will take a bold poacher to snag this Dudleya
If a year ago someone had said that Dudleya poaching was about to become a problem along the California Coast, it would have been difficult to believe. But in an increasingly globalized and irrational world, we should probably not be surprised when the not-so-invisible hand of a distant market suddenly reaches out to rip a random thread from the local web of life.
Dudleya poachers have been busted in Northern California several times now, and have recently been spotted stuffing their duffel bags full of looted succulents right here in our own lawless Garrapata State Park – where officially closed trails host hundreds of hikers per day and illegal campers started the most-costly-to-suppress-in-US-history Soberanes Fire.
Dudleya in bloom
While most Californians hearing the news about Dudleya poaching had probably never heard of Dudleya or given them more than a passing glance, Dudleyas have long had a following among xeriscaping gardeners. The limited demand has always been easily met by nurseries, where Dudleyas can be purchased at reasonable rates, under the common name Live-Forever – although not, apparently, in anything like the quantity that the market now requires.
Canyon Dudleya (Dudleya cymosa)
There are about six species, and two or three subspecies, in the genus Dudleya to be found in Monterey County, as well as a couple of species in the closely related Sedum genus.
Dudleya and Sedum belong to the Crassulaceae, or Stonecrop, Family. They are beautiful, yet unassuming and easily overlooked plants that do a good job of blending in to their surroundings. They generally inhabit rocky, inhospitable spots on coastal bluffs or parched mountainsides and, as the common name implies, they are very resilient. Some species may be capable of living 100 years or more.
Broad-Leaved Stonecrop (Sedum spathulifolium)
All this resilience against drought, salt spray and time, does not, of course, prevent Dudleya from being torn out by the roots and sold into commerce. So until the Dudleya bubble bursts, they will doubtless continue to be stripped from public and private land alike. We can only hope that the Dudleya fad fizzles soon.
If only there was a way to start a pampas grass craze in some distant place…
Lance-Leaved Dudleya (Dudleya lanceolata)
Xasáuan Today 
That is so sad. Disappointed in humankind.
Yes! Let’s start a pompas grass craze!! BTW, it looks like the F&G, aka F&W caught the Garrapata poachers. Now it is up to the DA to file the charges. Executed a SW and found the Dudleyas. KION is interviewing Jad today, Monday, the 14th.
As always, well written and educational article. Thank you. We are a very disappointing species at times. Jade Davis and others give us hope!
Pampas Grass fads won’t work. Once people start cultivating pampas grass, I guess first people will steal pampas grass. But after that. The storm will hit. It will be everywhere