Saxifraga paniculata

The most common saxifrage in the Ligulatae section, S. paniculata is found on all continents in the northern hemisphere. It is the only one of that section that is found in North America, growing from the Yukon and North West Territories all the way south to the Gaspé Peninsula and even in isolated areas of Vermont and New York. Saxifraga paniculata is not only the most common; it is also the most variable silver Saxifrage. Form, size and flower color can vary according to where it grows. White, yellow, pink, red and even spotted petals are found and rosettes can vary from ½ cm all the way to 8cm. Approximately 35 distinct forms have been found. They are so different in type that many of them have been given distinct names such as Saxifraga ‘Minutifolia’, S. ‘Lutea’, S. ‘Venetia’ and S. ‘Silver Beads’.

A hardy and adaptable plant, Saxifraga paniculata grows on limestone, granite and even the serpentine barrens of Newfoundland. It is also resistant to drought and direct sun unlike many of its cousins in the Saxifraga family, for these reasons and the fact that there are so many variations to choose, it is a great trough or rock garden plant. A word of caution, although it’s easy enough to grow; Saxifraga paniculata is an alpine plant and as such does not like to have a wet crown. It must be grown in a well drained medium and have a mulch of gravel under its leaves.

Here are some interesting small forms of Saxifraga paniculata that are ideal for troughs: S. ‘Minutifolia’ is the smallest and one of the most encrusted, a beauty in a tight crevice or planted directly in tufa. S. ‘Petrophila’, just a little larger than S. ‘Minutifolia’ with a distinctly different leaf, also great in a crevice or tufa. S. ‘Venetia’, tiny red backed rosettes and stems with pure white flowers. S. ‘Labradorica’, a slightly larger form of S.’Minutifolia’ with the same silver encrustation. S. ‘Dr. Clay’, one of my favorite medium sized forms, its longer silver encrusted leaves and size make it stand out in a trough or rock garden.

Now some of the larger forms, many of these will do well in a trough or container if they are kept under control but their size and growth habits make them great choices for the rock garden: S. paniculata var. cartillaginea, a red flowered form called ‘Foster’s Red’ is being sold in nurseries and is worth having for its spreading habit. S.’Rosea’, pink flowers on long stems and another spreader. S. ‘Lutea’, yellow flowers and large long leaved rosettes. S. ‘Punctata’ or ‘Punctatissima’, a quick spreader with red dotted white flowers.

The plants I have mentioned are all forms of S. paniculata found in nature, but even in the wild it is a notorious cross-pollinator so I want to mention a few interesting hybrids that are different enough to warrant a place in your garden. S. ‘Andrewsii’, (S. paniculata x S. spathularis) its long green leaves with almost no encrustation and speckled flowers along with its need for more shady and humid conditions make it an ideal candidate for a low spot in the rock garden. S. ‘Cockscomb’, a garden hybrid from Frank Cabot with raised lime encrusted ridges on the leaves that look like a rooster’s comb, is small enough for a trough or different enough for a garden. S. ‘Winifred Bevington’, (S. paniculata x S. umbrosa) round shiny green crenate leaves and star shaped cerise spotted flowers, a beauty in a trough or rock garden. S. ‘Whitehill’, (S. paniculata x S. cochlearis) silvery-blue rosettes, reddened at the base so that the center has a ruby glow and small enough for a trough.

I have grown and enjoyed all of these plants for the last ten years; hopefully this article will encourage you to try some or all of them in your garden.

Robert Leclerc.