It is characterized by green to purple lanceolate leaves, red, orange, or less commonly yellow petals, and is typically tetraploid.

The pedicels are 2 to 12 mm long, becoming erect, and are red or green, and not generally pink.

[3][4] The petals are usually red or orange, and more uncommonly bright yellow to purplish-red, and very rarely green.

[4] Diploid plants in montane regions are in fact Dudleya cymosa.

[6] It is not particularly hardy to the cold, and is typically found where humidity is not too low, by the coast and in north-facing inland locations.