Plant Dudleya on a slope or in a wall, with the crown at or above the soil and tipped so rain runs off.
Plant on a slope, with the crown shedding water
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Place | A slope, rock shelf, or wall crevice | A depression that ponds |
| Angle | Tip the rosette up to about 45 degrees | A flat cup facing the sky |
| Mulch | Gravel, kept off the stem | Bark against the crown |
| Light | Coastal sun; inland, part sun or afternoon shade | A hot inland wall with no air |
Set the rosette at an angle so water drains off the crown. [1] Plant at or slightly above grade, never in a hollow. [2]
Should I plant Dudleya angled?
Yes. Tip it so rain runs out of the rosette. On a cliff that happens by itself; on flat ground you have to do it.
How to plant Dudleya
A 45-degree tilt mimics a cliff and gives water a path off the leaves. [3]
- Choose grit or a raised rock pocket. Mix in gravel if the bed is heavy.
- Set the nursery ball so the crown sits at or above the finished grade. Tip the rosette toward the downhill side.
- Backfill with the same gritty mix. Press in gravel, not bark, around the stem.
- Wait 5 to 7 days, then water once deeply and let the mix dry.
Wait a week to water, and what fails a new plant
Coastal full sun is fine; inland, part sun looks better and avoids scorch. [4] Failures are a flat wet crown, bark mulch, and a hose the day you plant. After the first season, extra summer water is optional and should stay off the foliage.
If rain sits in the rosette after planting, lift and tip it — do not add compost.
FAQ
Should I add compost to the hole?
No. Lean grit is the point. Rich, wet mix holds water at the crown.
Can I plant on flat clay?
Not as a flat bed. Build a mound or a rock pocket so water leaves, and still tip the rosette.
Can I use bark mulch?
No against the crown. Use gravel. Bark keeps the stem wet.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Las Pilitas Nursery -
https://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/256--dudleya-pulverulenta - [2] Ambitious Harvest -
https://www.ambitiousharvest.com/learn/dudleya-california-native-succulents - [3] UCCE Master Gardeners of San Diego County -
https://www.mastergardenersd.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Dudleyas.pdf - [4] San Marcos Growers -
https://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=3371
This note is part of Dudleya Guides.
More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors