i think it grows better together, i just seperated 4 that right next to each other, i just dug around all of them and they were in a big clump of dirt and i started breaking away at the dirt slowly and gently, its actaully pretty easy, just takes time, and be gentle.. i took my plants all the way to the bear roots with no dirt and i planted them seperate and they didnt even go in shock? i've been doing that for like 20 plants and never shocked them and i never had any problems besides bug..