No, they are quite long lived in nature (and can grow several inches of stem). There are a few colonies growing wild on the hill above here. They grow on almost pure rock.
The plant without flowers is the sole survivor of its generation... most of them succumbed to bugs. That is why I amputate the flowers on plants I'm propagating as soon as I see them. Plus then there's less dead flower stalks to trim off in the fall that way.
In cultivation they can grow several times faster than they do in habitat. These plants are a few months old and will be filling 6 inch pots by the end of their first year. Like other Dudleyas they seem to really thrive in our mild, foggy coastal climate.
Thank you for the kind words. These are amazing plants. I grew a batch of about 15 two years ago and they were well received as gifts. Now I want to try and concentrate on a garden project. I would like to plant several of them side by side on the ground, forming a native groundcover. That would be cool. I'll be sure to take a photo when it happens.
