Also known as Liveforever · 10 gardener saves
Dudleya: the varieties gardeners actually grow
Dudleya, the genus most gardeners know as liveforever. We track 5 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.
The 5 most-saved Dudleya varieties
Of 5 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.
#1 most savedChalk Dudleya
Dudleya pulverulenta
#2 most savedSea Lettuce
Dudleya caespitosa
#3 most savedPowdery Liveforever
Dudleya farinosa
Giant Chalk Dudleya
Dudleya brittonii 'Giant Chalk Dudleya'
Canyon Liveforever
Dudleya cymosa 'Orange Form'
How to grow Dudleya
What the Dudleya varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 5 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.
The Dudleya year
- PlantMarch, September and October100% of varieties
Plant in well-draining soil; avoid planting during summer dormancy
- DeadheadJune and July60% of varieties
Cut spent flower stalks back to the base after blooming finishes
- Spring CleanupFebruary and March60% of varieties
Remove dead or dried lower leaves (skirts) to tidy the rosette
- Check for PestsApril and May60% of varieties
Inspect leaf crevices for mealybugs
- FertilizeMarch40% of varieties
Apply a diluted, low-nitrogen fertilizer once in early spring
- PropagateApril40% of varieties
Separate offsets (pups) from the base of the mother plant in spring
- Winter PrepOctober40% of varieties
Protect from excessive winter moisture and hard frost to prevent rot.
Do
- Provide bright, direct sunlight to promote healthy growth 🌞
- Use well-draining soil to prevent waterlogging ❌
- Water sparingly, especially during dormancy
- Fertilize lightly during active growing months
- Monitor for pests regularly
Avoid
- Avoid overwatering, which can cause root rot ❌
- Overwater or let roots sit in water ❌
- Place in low-light conditions
- Use heavy or poorly draining soil
What goes wrong with Dudleya
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Mealybugs | White cottony masses on leaves and stems | Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap; use horticultural oil as an organic option |
| Aphids | Sticky residue and distorted growth | Use insecticidal soap or neem oil |
| Scale insects | Hard, shell-like bumps on plant surfaces | Remove manually or treat with insecticidal soap |
| Root rot | Wilting and blackened roots | Reduce watering, improve drainage |
| Root Rot | Wilting, blackened roots | Improve drainage, reduce watering, and remove affected parts |
| Fungal Leaf Spot | Brown or black spots on leaves | Apply a fungicide and remove affected leaves |
Making more Dudleya
Offsets
- Gently remove offsets from the mother plant
- Allow offsets to callus for 2 days
- Plant in well-draining soil
- Water lightly after 1 week
- Maintain bright light for 4 weeks
Seeds
- Tuck seeds into sandy soil surface
- Mist lightly to keep moist for 2 weeks
- Place in bright, indirect sunlight
- Keep soil dry between watering
- Germination occurs in 4-6 weeks
Dudleya questions
How many types of Dudleya are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 5 distinct Dudleya varieties. The most popular — ranked by 10 real gardener saves — are shown first above.
What zones does Dudleya grow in?
Across its varieties, Dudleya covers USDA Zones 8–10. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Dudleya bloom?
Most Dudleya varieties bloom in late spring, early summer, late spring to mid-summer. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Dudleya should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.
Keep exploring
By hardiness zone
Design with Dudleya in your own yard
Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.
