The species is a geophyte and able to persist underground as corms in stressful conditions, but we don't know how long they survive, and this makes it difficult to track trends in population numbers as they are hidden underground.

As of 2017, San Diego Zoo Global has seed collections from 4 of the 5 wild populations. Germination trials show very high seed viability, and we have been successful in propagating ex-situ living collections from 2 different populations. The ex-situ living collections are self-sustaining and reproducing.

In 2016, San Diego Zoo Global Native Plant Seed Bank germinated seeds from populations of Dudleya brevifolia collected in San Diego County as part of a seed bulking initiative. Many germinants flowered and produced new seed. In fact, more plants bloomed in San Diego Zoo ex-situ population than bloomed in the wild populations visited (Davitt 2017). San Diego Zoo Global has been propagating this species since 2015. We have successfully propagated several populations, getting the seeds to flower and seed within one season, and having the corms successfully re-sprout the following season and flower again. We are currently seed bulking the smallest and most imperiled population. The corms grown from wild-collected seed can produce seed year after year, giving us a living ex-situ population that can potentially help stabilize and expand the small wild population.

Based on an September 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, San Diego Zoo Global holds 10 accessions of Dudleya brevifolia in orthodox seed collection. There are as many as 39667 seeds of this species in their collection - although some may have been used for curation testing or sent to back up.

Based on an September 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, California Botanic Garden holds 1 accessions of Dudleya brevifolia in orthodox seed collection. There are as many as 101025 seeds of this species in their collection - although some may have been used for curation testing or sent to back up.

Based on an August 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, San Diego Zoo Global has collected 10 seed accessions of Dudleya brevifolia from 5 plant occurrences listed in the California Natural Diversity Database. These collections together emcompass 495 maternal plants

Based on an August 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, California Botanic Garden has collected 1 seed accessions of Dudleya brevifolia from 1 plant occurrences listed in the California Natural Diversity Database. These collections together emcompass an unknown number of maternal plants

As of 2017, San Diego Zoo Global has seed collections from 4 of the 5 wild populations. Germination trials show very high seed viability, and we have been successful in propagating ex-situ living collections from 2 different populations. The ex-situ living collections are self-sustaining and reproducing.

Research into the best way to reintroduce the species into the wild will be key. We have shown the species is a great candidate for ex-situ seed bulking, but the best use of these seeds in the wild is still unknown. We are working on developing an experiment to track seed re-introductions with David Hogan and the Chaparral Lands Conservancy.

San Diego Zoo Global has been propagating this species since 2015. We have successfully propagated several populations, getting the seeds to flower and seed within one season, and having the corms successfully re-sprout the following season and flower again. We are currently seed bulking the smallest and most imperiled population. The corms grown from wild-collected seed can produce seed year after year, giving us a living ex-situ population that can potentially help stabilize and expand the small wild population.

The species is known from 5 populations, several of which have sub-populations that are managed and monitored separately. All populations are on protected land. There are two very large populations, one population that is in a relatively small area, but appears stable, and two populations that are fairly small. Years of drought have made it difficult to get accurate counts of the population. It is impossible to know if individuals are dormant underground, or dead, or how large the soil seed bank is. Overall I would say the total population is stable, but there is definitely risk of that changing, and conservation actions we can take to prevent any decline. 

The 5 known wild populations are on protected lands and are well documented, monitored, and managed. As of now, the largest threats, in my opinion, are trampling by people and pets, invasive weeds, and climate change. Many of the sites are fenced, but fencing is often vandalized and unauthorized trails are a problem. Some sites show risk of weed invasion, mainly by invasive grasses, Carpobrotus, Erodium, etc. but the sites are generally small areas and weeds are relatively easy to manage. Apart from trampling, I think the largest threat to the species is climate change. An increased risk of prolonged drought could be detrimental. The species is a geophyte and able to persist underground as corms in stressful conditions, but we don't know how long they survive, and this makes it difficult to track trends in population numbers as they are hidden underground.

In 2016, San Diego Zoo Global Native Plant Seed Bank germinated seeds from populations of Dudleya brevifolia collected in San Diego County as part of a seed bulking initiative. Many germinants flowered and produced new seed. In fact, more plants bloomed in San Diego Zoo ex-situ population than bloomed in the wild populations visited (Davitt 2017). 

California state endemic, few occurrences, real threat from urbanization.

Development (three populations were destroyed by development over a four year period)

This species is among those covered in the Multiple Species Conservation Program (MCSP) of southern San Diego County.