Saxifraga

( sak - SIFF - rag - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Saxifrage or Rockfoil, this genus includes flowering perennial plants which typically need regular water to perform well. These creeping groundcovers are native to North America and Europe, prefer shady conditions, and are great in rock gardens. Use these flowers in mixed beds and borders, in rock walls, or as container plants on patios and balconies.

saxifraga Species and Varietals

Saxifrage is the type genus member of the plant family Saxifragaceae, and includes 473 species. The genus name is Latin for 'stone breaker', referring to the rocky natural habitat of most species. Saxifrage growing zones vary depending on the species; for more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Saxifraga aizoides (Yellow Mountain Saxifrage, Yellow Saxifrage)
These evergreen perennial herbaceous plants are native to North America, Greenland, and Europe. It is an endangered species in some areas of its natural range. Individual plants reach about 4 inches tall, and spread by short rhizomes, forming mats of small colonies over time. Flowers are yellow to green.

Saxifraga bronchialis (Matte Saxifrage, Spotted Saxifrage, Yellowdot Saxifrage)
Native to northern Asia and North America, Matte Saxifrage is a short perennial mat-forming plant. Foliage is green to dark green, and often has reddish tips and lower surfaces. Floral stems are green to reddish, and reach up to 8 inches tall. Blooms are yellow-white and have small red to yellow spots. Stamens are prominent.

Saxifraga cochlearis (Spoon-Leaved Saxifrage)
This species is native to France and Italy, and produces green foliage and red flowering stems that reach about 8 inches tall when in bloom. Basal foliage is light green to grey-green. Varietal 'Minor' is a great garden ornamental cultivar.

Saxifraga federici-augusti (Saxifraga grisebachii) (Engleria Saxifrage)
Reaching up to 6 inches tall when in bloom, these plants are native to Greece, Albania, and former Yugoslavia. Flowers are reddish purple, and bloom from January through March in the plant's native range. Basal foliage forms a rosette of green foliage, from which flowering stems emerge. Cultivar 'Wisely' is a great choice for gardens.

Saxifraga fortunei (Fortune Saxifrage)
Native to China, Japan and Korea, these plants form basal tufts of dull green foliage. Flowering stems are red, and are topped with clusters of long-rayed flowers, creating a delicate blooming look. Leaves are rounded and fleshy, sometimes flushed with red or pink tones in cooler weather. Varietals include 'Angelina Johnson', 'Blackberry and Apple Pie', 'Moe', 'Pink Haze', 'Rokujo', 'Sue Drew', and 'Sugar Plum Fairy'.

Saxifraga hyperborea (Saxifraga debilis, Saxifraga rivularis) (Pygmy Saxifrage)
These plants are native to the western United States, Canada, Alaska, Greenland, and Russia. The species forms small mats of basal foliage that is typically green, sometimes edged with red. Foliage sometimes appears purple, especially during cooler temperatures. Flowers can be purple or white.

Saxifraga hypnoides (Mossy Saxifrage, Cut-Leaved Saxifrage, Dovedale Moss, Eve's Cushion, Indian Moss, Lady's Cushion, Queen's Cushion)
These plants are native to northwestern Europe, and are small perennials that form mats of green mossy foliage. Flowering stems are bronze to reddish, and are topped with white flowers that have yellow centers. There are forms with red to pinkish flowers available as garden ornamentals.

Saxifraga oppositifolia (Purple Saxifrage, Purple Mountain Saxifrage)
These plants are common in mountainous areas in the Arctic, northern Britain, the Alps and around the Rocky Mountains. Individual plants are low-growers, reaching about 2 inches tall, and produce solitary flowers on short stalks. Blooms are purple to lilac, and bloom throughout the summer months. This is a popular plant for alpine gardens, but struggle in warm climates.

Saxifrage paniculata (Alpine Saxifrage, Encrusted Saxifrage, Lifelong Saxifrage, Lime-Encrusted Saxifrage, Livelong Saxifrage, White Mountain Saxifrage, Silver Saxifrage)
These plants basal rosettes of fleshy foliage and flower from mid-June through early August in their native range (temperate Northern Hemisphere). They are cultivated as garden ornamentals, and a few cultivars have been developed, including 'Lavagreana', 'Rosea', and 'Venetia'.

Saxifraga rosacea (Saxifraga decipiens) (Mossy Saxifrage, Irish Saxifrage)
This species grows well in zones 2-7 and 14-17, and is native to Europe. They form low mats of foliage 2-4 inches tall and a foot wide. Leaves are green and glossy and white flowers (sometimes in cream, pink or red). In cool-summer areas, they need partial shade, but in warmer areas, full shade is preferred. Varieties include 'Peter Pan' (with white flowers that open from pink buds), and Saxifraga rosacea sternbergii (with pink-flushed white flowers).

Saxifraga spathularis (St. Patrick's Cabbage)
These plants form basal rosettes of toothed leaves and are native to Ireland, Portugal, and Spain. Flowering stems are leafless, rising from the foliage to hold up pinkish flowers. Plants grow well in humus-rich alpine habitats. At maturity, plants reach up to between 4 and 8 inches tall with 10-inch flowering stems.

Saxifraga stolonifera (Saxifraga sarmentosa) (Strawberry Geranium, Creeping Saxifrage, Roving Sailor, Aaron's Beard, Mother of Thousands, Creeping Rockfoil)
This species grows well in zones 2-9 and 14-24 and is native to China and Japan. It forms a rosette to 6-8 inches tall and a foot wide, and will expand rapidly via runners, similar to Strawberry plants. Leaves are round and green, and it blooms in late summer and fall in loose clusters. Flowers are white. Great as a groundcover in areas that do not receive hard freezes. It needs partial or full shade. Variety 'Maroon Beauty' has leaves with maroon markings on them.

Saxifraga umbrosa (True London Pride, None-So-Pretty, King's Feather, Kiss-Me-Quick, Leaf of St. Patrick, Prattling Parnell, Pyrenean Saxifrage, Sailor Plant, St. Anne's Needlework, Whimsey)
This species grows well in zones 2-7 and 14-17 and is native to the Pyranees. Leaves are shiny and green, and flowers bloom in springtime. Flowers are pink and stems are wine red. Great groundcover for small shady areas, and they love being near rocks. Variety Saxifraga umbrosa primuloides is a compact, dwarf form. 'Clarence Elliott' is a choice garden cultivar.

Saxifraga x urbium (London Pride)
This hybrid species grows well in zones 4-9 and reaches a foot tall and 2 feet wide at maturity when in bloom. Flowers are pale pink and open in summertime. This species needs partial to full shade to perform well.

Caring for saxifraga

Saxifraga plants should be situated in a spot in the landscape that receives full sun (between 6 and 8 hours each day is ideal). Rockfoil appreciates a spot that is somewhat sheltered from wind and hot sun (partial shade in the afternoon is best). Ensure that soil is well-draining, light, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral). Saxifraga plants are particularly sensitive to boggy soils and have a tendency to develop issues with root rot when grown in substrate that is kept too moist. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost and sand before installing. Mulch around the base of plants with grit or gravel to prevent waterlogging around the crown of the plant. Saxifrage does not need fertilizing. Pruning is simple; remove spent flowering stems when blooms fade to encourage rebloom and discourage re-seeding. Every few years, divide plants to maintain good root health. For instructions on how to divide Saxifrage plants successfully, see the Propagation section below.

Propagation

Saxifraga, or Saxifrage, can be propagated by division, cutting or seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division or cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, especially if you are propagating a hybrid cultivar. To propagate your Saxifrage, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Saxifraga by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Saxifraga by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
In early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Cut one or more leaves off of the lower half of the plant, severing them near their base. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new plant.

Propagating Saxifraga by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.