Saxifrage
Hardy Perennial.
Six to eighteen inches.
Flowers of several colours, March to June.
Most of the Saxifrages are rocky plants, requiring
special soil and treatment, but there are a certain
number which succeed in ordinary garden soil,
and therefore come within the scope of this work.
As far as possible they should have moisture with
good drainage; road-grit and leaf-mould may be
used to lighten heavy soil, and stones may be
sunk or laid on the ground for the roots to work
under.
Most of the varieties will flourish in
half-shade.
Saxifrage granulata (Meadow Saxifrage) throws up in
April stiff stems bearing single white flowers,
height about fifteen inches.
Saxifrage granulata plena.
The double form of above;
has beautiful tufted heads or plumes of cream-white
flowers.
A delightful possession; not quite as
robust as the single. Both somewhat capricious,
and apt to die out.
Saxifrage cymbalaria, a little creeping variety with
minute yellow flowers. Will grow anywhere, and
seeds freely, in some places becoming a weed and
a nuisance.
Saxifrage umbrosa (“London Pride”). This
old favourite does not need a description. It
does best in half-shade, and should be lifted
and replanted every third or fourth year.
Saxifrage megasea (Megasea cordifolia). Has large, fleshy,
plantain-shaped leaves, and produces in March
and April, heads of pink flowers about a foot
high. Very easily grown, and endures shade and
neglected corners. Megasea Stracheyi has white
flowers; M. purpurea very large clusters of dark
crimson.
The following varieties belong to the “mossy”
section, of which Saxifrage hypnoides, “Eve’s
Cushion”, or “Dovedale Moss”,
is the best-known member. They form after two
or three years’ growth dense rounded tufts
or hillocks, a yard across, almost hidden in April
by sheets of flower. They should be planted in
February, in moist well-drained soil, in full
sun; once established, they may easily be increased
by taking off rooted pieces. They produce magnificent
effects of colour in contrast with Arabis, Alyssum
and the Aubrietias.
Saxifrage hypnoides. Flowers white, extremely robust
and easy to grow.
Saxifrage atropurpurea. Small, short-stalked flowers
of a fine crimson.
Saxifrage camposi (Wallacei). Pure white, large flowers.
Saxifrage Rhei. Flowers a beautiful pink.
Saxifrage “Guildford Seedlings”. A hybrid
with deep crimson flowers.
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