There are numerous subspecies, some critically endangered, with varying habits and lifestyles, but most often characterized by a smaller size, yellow flowers, and an affinity for rocky habitats.

[3] Dudleya abramsii is a fleshy perennial forming a small basal cluster of leaves around a central caudex.

The inflorescence is a mostly erect, branching stem lined with pointed bracts and bearing up to 15 flowers.

The flower has five small, thick sepals at the base of five pale to cream yellow petals each roughly 8 to 13 mm long.

Flora of North America and The Jepson Manual have elevated Dudleya parva to a species, while other subspecies have been moved to Dudleya cymosa[2] The following subspecies are recognized in the 2012 Jepson eFlora: D. abramsii is native to California and northern Baja California, where it grows in rocky areas in a number of habitat types.