Britton’s Dudleya, and Dudleya in general, are really cool, wonderful, sculptural, interesting plants that bloom early in the winter and provide hummingbirds with a nectar source during the slow winter season.

Most people assume Dudleya should be full sun since they look like succulents and all succulents are succulents, right? WRONG. Please stop doing that. Dudleya are canyon creatures, clinging on near vertical rock slopes in cooler spots. The only species that should be in full sun is this species, Britton’s Dudleya, and even then I avoid doing that since they can look very dry and dormant in the dry summer months. Put them in pots and water occasionally, or grow them in the ground with a one foot boulder on the sunny side, creating a miniature canyon for it to grow in. Place close to paths where you can admire their form, but not in areas that receive foot traffic as they do are slow growing and do not respond to pruning/mangling. Leave dry leaves on them to help stabilize them during the summer. Plant them at 45 degree angles so rainwater doesn’t get in their leaves and rot their cores (after all, they’re used to growing on canyon walls where water won’t accumulate in their foliage). If you plant them horizontally, take a syringe or turkey baster and remove excess water from the crown, then blow out with a leaf blower or air compressor (set to low.)

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