Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Britten's Tiger Jaws (Faucaria britteniae)cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called Britten's Tiger Jaws, Tiger Jaws Succulent.

More about britten's tiger jaws

About Britten's Tiger Jaws

Faucaria britteniae · also called Britten's Tiger Jaws, Tiger Jaws Succulent · houseplant

Faucaria britteniae is a South African succulent with pairs of thick, toothed leaves that interlock like open jaws — the 'teeth' being soft, recurved spines. Bright yellow flowers appear in autumn. It is more drought-tolerant than many succulents and easy to grow with direct sun and sharp drainage. Non-toxic and pet-safe.

Cold limit: USDA 9–11 (indoor-only in cool climates) · RHS H2 (7–30°C)

What britten's tiger jaws's hardiness rating actually means

Britten's Tiger Jaws is half-hardy (RHS H2). It survives a mild winter outdoors in a sheltered spot, but a hard frost kills it — so in colder zones it is lifted, potted, or grown as a tender plant. Its RHS rating of H2 means: Tender — survives a frost-free greenhouse or a very mild, sheltered spot. On the US scale that maps to USDA 9–11 (indoor-only in cool climates) — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about 1 to 5 °C — tolerates cold but no real frost. Britten's Tiger Jaws shrugs off cold nights but a real, sustained freeze will kill it.

Concretely, for britten's tiger jaws as it gets too cold:

Down to roughly about 1 to 5 °C it copes, especially if dry and sheltered.
A sustained hard frost collapses the top growth; whether it returns depends on whether the roots, crown or tubers froze.
Wet cold is far more lethal than dry cold for this plant — soggy, frozen soil is the usual killer.

Can britten's tiger jaws go outside or overwinter — and where?

It can live outside year-round only in the mildest, most sheltered part of USDA 9–11 (indoor-only in cool climates) or a frost-free UK microclimate.
In colder zones, grow it in a pot you can move under cover, or lift its tubers/roots and store them frost-free over winter.
A south-facing wall, free-draining soil and a dry winter position can push it a full zone hardier than the books suggest.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when britten's tiger jaws can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H2 figure above.

Frost protection for borderline britten's tiger jaws

Britten's Tiger Jaws is right on a hardiness edge in many gardens, so if you are pushing it, these measures buy it the margin it needs:

Mulch the crown or root zone deeply with bark, straw or leaf-mould before the first hard frost.
Move container plants against a warm wall or into an unheated but frost-free porch or greenhouse.
Fleece the top growth on the coldest nights, and keep it on the dry side — dry roots survive cold far better than wet ones.
Lift dahlia-type tubers or tender crowns after the first light frost blackens the foliage and store them somewhere cool but frost-free.

Britten's Tiger Jaws hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is britten's tiger jaws cold hardy?

Britten's Tiger Jaws is half-hardy (RHS H2). It survives a mild winter outdoors in a sheltered spot, but a hard frost kills it — so in colder zones it is lifted, potted, or grown as a tender plant. Borderline outdoors. In its mild end of USDA 9–11 (indoor-only in cool climates) (and sheltered UK gardens) britten's tiger jaws can stay out; in colder areas it must be lifted, brought in, or treated as a frost-tender plant.

What is the minimum temperature britten's tiger jaws can survive?

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about 1 to 5 °C — tolerates cold but no real frost. Britten's Tiger Jaws shrugs off cold nights but a real, sustained freeze will kill it.

What hardiness zone is britten's tiger jaws?

Britten's Tiger Jaws is rated USDA 9–11 (indoor-only in cool climates) and RHS H2 — Tender — survives a frost-free greenhouse or a very mild, sheltered spot.

Can britten's tiger jaws survive winter outside?

It can live outside year-round only in the mildest, most sheltered part of USDA 9–11 (indoor-only in cool climates) or a frost-free UK microclimate. In colder zones, grow it in a pot you can move under cover, or lift its tubers/roots and store them frost-free over winter. A south-facing wall, free-draining soil and a dry winter position can push it a full zone hardier than the books suggest.

How do I protect britten's tiger jaws from frost?

Mulch the crown or root zone deeply with bark, straw or leaf-mould before the first hard frost. Move container plants against a warm wall or into an unheated but frost-free porch or greenhouse. Fleece the top growth on the coldest nights, and keep it on the dry side — dry roots survive cold far better than wet ones. Lift dahlia-type tubers or tender crowns after the first light frost blackens the foliage and store them somewhere cool but frost-free.