Saxifrage

Saxifraga arendsii ( Mossy Saxifrage )
A low cushony perennial, reaching a maximum size of 8 x 10 inches. Great for the shady rock garden.
The showy, white, pink or red, cup-shaped flowers are borne during early to late spring.
Hardy zones 3 to 7 in partial shade on cool, moist, very well drained soil.
It is not drought tolerant.

* photo taken on Apr 15 2022 in Elkridge, MD

* photos taken on July 8 2023 in Thornbury, ON

'Alpino Early Magic Salmon'

* photo taken on Apr 15 2024 in Elkridge, MD

'Blood Carpet'
Flowers are red, fading to pink.

'Cloth of Gold'
Golden foliage and white flowers.

'Purple Carpet'
Purplish-red flowers.

'Snow Carpet'
White flowers.

'Touron Neon Rose'

* photos taken on Apr 4 2011 in Columbia, MD



* photos of unknown internet source


'Touron Red'

* photo taken on Apr 4 2011 in Columbia, MD

'Touron White'

* photo taken on Apr 4 2011 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Mar 1 2023 in Columbia, MD

Saxifraga fortunei
A vigorous, runner-spreading clumping perennial, reaching up to 1 x 1 foot in size, that is native to northeast Asia ( from eastern Siberia to Sakhalin; south to northern China to Korea & Japan ). It is usually found on moist coastal rock cliffs and along mountain streams.
The fleshy, scalloped, rounded leaves are up to 4 x 4 ( rarely 7 x 8 ) inches in size. The foliage is velvety deep green with silver bands along the veins above; red beneath.
The light pink or white flowers, up to an inch in length, are borne mid to late autumn.
Hardy zones 6 to 8 ( 5 on protected sites ) in full sun or partial shade on moist, fertile, light, acidic, well drained soil. Requires light to moderate shade. It hates peat moss so use ground bark instead.

'Berry Bright'
Deep bronze foliage and intense rosy-pink flowers.

'Rubrifolia'
Reaches up to 1 foot with coppery to reddish foliage.

'Wada's Variety' ( Red Rockfoil )
Reddish-purple foliage contrasts with pure white flowers borne during summer.

'Windsor'
More vigorous and taller, with flower stalks reaching up to 2 feet in height.

Saxifraga pensylvanica ( Eastern Swamp Saxifrage )
A perennial, reaching up to 3 feet in height, that is native from Saskatchewan to Kenora, Ontario to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to northern New York State to southern Maine; south to eastern Missouri to central Ohio to central Virginia. It was uncommon on the Ohio shore even back in the 1800s.
The foliage is mid-green.
The greenish-white flowers are borne mid-spring to early summer.

Saxifraga stolonifera ( Mother of Thousands )
Also called Strawberry Saxifrage. An interesting groundcover for shade, forming large colonies quickly, spreading by red stolons or runners with plantlets at the tips. A single plant can form a colony up to 3.5 feet across in 5 years. The Mother of Thousands is native to western China but also naturalized in Japan. It is found on wet rock talus in mountains in the wild.
The basal rosette of composed of rounded evergreen leaves are up to 4 x 5 ( rarely 6 x 7 ) inches in size. The foliage is gray-green with silvery veins above, reddish beneath.
The small white ( spotted pink ) flowers, up to 0.8 inches in size ) are borne on green stalks up to 2 feet in height, from mid summer to mid autumn.
Hardy zones 7 to 9 ( zones 6 on protected sites ) in light to moderate shade on just about any moist, well drained soil, preferrably humus-rich.
Very easy to grow and soil tolerant. It is also very heat tolerant when in shade, making it an excellent plant for the Mid Atlantic and Deep South.

* photo taken on annual Horticultural Society of Maryland Garden Tour



* photo taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photos taken on June 1 2014 @ Maryland Horticulturalist Society Garden Tour, Ellicott City

* photos taken on May 27 2017 @ Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA

'Eco Butterfly'
Foliage is yellow with a pattern of green resembling that of a butterfly in shape.
The flowers are white.

'Harvest Moon'
Foliage is brilliant orange-red, later turning to bright golden-yellow and covered in red bristles.
The flowers are pale pink, borne during autumn.

'Maroon Beauty'
Vigorous spreader. Foliage is maroon with silver-gray lining above; purple below.

'Tricolor'
Hardier than species. Foliage is deep green and variegated with silver and pink above; red below. The flowers are white.

Saxifraga x urbium
Also called Saxifraga umbrosa. A perennial, reaching up to 8 inches, with small, white ( red in center ) flowers, borne late spring to early summer. The oval leaves are up to 2 inches in length. They are bright above, reddish beneath.
An excellent plant for the rock garden.
Hardy zones 5 to 7 in full sun to partial shade.

Saxifraga veitchiana
Native to China and very similar to S. stolonifera, except for unmarked matte-green leaves that are reddish-brown beneath.
Hard zones 7 to 9 ( zone 6 on protected sites ) and is easy to grow, being very tolerant of poor soil, heat and drought if its requirement of light to moderate shade are met.

Saxifraga virginiensis ( Early Saxifrage )
Also called Micranthes virginiensis. A perennial, reaching up to 1 foot, that is native to rock outcrops and dry wooded slopes in eastern North America ( from Manitoba to Manitoulin Island to Tobermory, Ontario to Blind River, Ontario to New Brunswick and Maine; south to northern Louisiana to South Carolina.
The toothed, ovate leaves are mid-green.
The white flowers are borne from early to late spring.
It thrives in sun or shade on well drained soils.