Dudleya protection - AB 223
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November 27, 2021
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On September 28 of this year Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 223 to protect the succulent Dudleya from poaching. This is the first California bill specifically drafted to protect plants from poaching. AB 223 makes it illegal to harvest Dudleya in California without permits or landowner permission, and establishes penalties for individuals convicted of doing so.
Dudleya, commonly called liveforever, is a perennial with an attractive basal rosette of fleshy, grey-green leaves. The small, colorful flowers come out along a stem that rises above the leaves. There are 48 species and subspecies of Dudleya in California, making California a hot spot of diversity. Ten species are on the state list of threatened or endangered plants.
Previously poachers have stripped entire hillsides of these plants. One mature Dudleya might sell for $30-$100.
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Katie Martin