How to Grow Saxifraga Plants

Saxifraga Growing and Care Guide

• Common Names: Rockfoil, Saxifrage, London pride, Strawberry Geranium, Mukdenia.
• Life Cycle: Hardy perennial.
• Height: Low growing up to 12 inches (30 cm).
• Native: Northern hemisphere. Mountainous/glacial areas.
• Growing Region: Zones 3 to 10.
• Flowers: Species dependent: Late spring through to autumn.
• Flower Details: White, red, pink. Small. Five petals. Large genus, so much variation e.g., Saxifraga stolonifera has pointed petals, whilst Saxifraga rivularis has a more rounded petal.
• Foliage: Succulent. Hairy. Rosettes (at end of runners). Oblong to ovate. Creeping.
• Sowing: Cover seed. Germination time: two weeks to two months. Spacing 4 to 18 inches (10—45 cm).
  Method 1: Seeds should first be sown into flats in the autumn. Next sink the flat into the ground in an area that offers shade, preferably close to a wall that faces north. Provide a glass/plastic covering. Keep an eye on the flats to ensure that the soil remains moist. Bring the flats indoor at the beginning of spring and keep at ~70°F (21°C). Transplant seedlings outdoors following the last frost.
  Method 2: In the spring, sow seeds in a moist growing medium in flats, wrap in a large plastic bag, then stratify by refrigeration for three weeks. Next bury the flat as described above. Once seedlings emerge transplant them to their final location.
• Requirements and care: Partial or full shade, will not tolerate midday sun. Good drainage, especially in the winter. Moist, sandy/gritty soil. Keep soil cool. Add lime. Regular watering during the summer to maintain moist soil. Propagate: from root runners.
• Family:
• Closely Related Species:
• Miscellaneous: The scientific name describes the plant’s medicinal ability to break kidney stones – Saxum (rock) and frangere (to break). Flowers of many species are edible, e.g., Saxifraga oppositifolia has semi-sweet petals.