Jovibarba Heuffelii, the Odd Hardy Succulent Out

by Drought Smart Plants

Jovibarba heuffelii, otherwise known as 'huffies' are the odd man out in the hardy succulent world. Most other similar plants produce propagules or chicks; huffies split at the crown to produce more plants. The outcome of this odd form of propagation is that the plant will slowly increase over several to many years (these are long lived plants) and will be a mass of many crowns all crowded together.
To make more of these plants to sell or move into different areas you can grow more from seed, or surgically separate the crowns into several pieces, which will each grow to form their own colony in time.
The pictures illustrate the process; I recommend growing some from seed to practice on - be prepared to wait a few years because this will take anywhere from two to four years for the plants to start splitting up.

jovibarba heuffelii the odd hardy succulent out, flowers, gardening, succulents, The crown of the plant is full of new crowns in an interesting twist

The crown of the plant is full of new crowns in an interesting twist...

jovibarba heuffelii the odd hardy succulent out, flowers, gardening, succulents, Pull most of the soil off the roots the roots are thick like a carrot at the surface of the soil

Pull most of the soil off the roots - the roots are thick like a carrot at the surface of the soil.

jovibarba heuffelii the odd hardy succulent out, flowers, gardening, succulents, Sometimes you need to start the cut with scissors or a razor but I recommend that you pull the crowns apart rather than cutting them the rest of the way

Sometimes you need to start the cut with scissors or a razor, but I recommend that you pull the crowns apart, rather than cutting them the rest of the way.

jovibarba heuffelii the odd hardy succulent out, flowers, gardening, succulents, The result four separated crowns note that the biggest one has four new ones forming but these weren t ready to split apart yet Next year

The result; four separated crowns; note that the biggest one has four new ones forming, but these weren't ready to split apart yet. Next year...

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3 of 19 comments

141737 on Aug 18, 2013
Had no idea a person could be a succulent enabler until I started reading your posts. ;)

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- Drought Smart Plants on Aug 18, 2013
  @Empress of Dirt - Melissa Are you referring to me? I would never do that...
  
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Lilyette on Feb 09, 2014
This is really helpful. I have started growing more and more succulents. They are so easy! However, I didn't know much about propagating them! They are now popular for weddings - used mixed on the tables and even in some of the bouquets! Thanks for your great posts.

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