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Saxifraga paniculata ex Austria

Saxifragaceae

Saxifraga paniculata

Habitat: mountain rocks

Flowering: summer

Height: 30 cm

Width: 20 cm

Soil: gritty

This excellent group of rock garden plants is known as the section Ligulatae, or more commonly as the silver or encrusted saxifrages, in recognition of the deposits of lime that line the leaves. They all have rosettes, large or small depending on the variety, and have relatively large panicles of flowers, usually white. They come from rocky places in the mountains, some on limestone and some on acid rocks.

Saxifraga paniculata ex Austria makes tight clumps of rosettes, the leaves short, rounded and encrusted with lime. The clusters of white flowers are on dark red stems. This is a selection, originating in Austria.
9 cm pot £3.50

		Saxifraga callosa 'Lissadell' has compact rosettes of lime-edged leaves, from which the stems of pure white flowers arise in early summer. It is a fine form riginally selected in Ireland.
		Saxifraga 'Clarence Elliott' has mid green, somewhat fleshy rosettes and pink-flushed, white, starry flowers.
		Saxifraga cochlearis 'Minor' is so compact that the silvery rosettes make a cushion, albeit a rather hard one. The flowers come on red stems, from red buds, and have a red blotch, but they themselves are white, so it is a pretty saxifrage for a rock garden, raised bed or trough.
		Saxifraga 'Doctor Clay' has intensely silver-grey rosettes of leaves, with arching stems carrying many white flowers.
		Saxifraga 'Esther' has rosettes of short, lime-encrusted leaves, dark red at the base. The relatively large white flowers are on fairly short stems, so it can be an attractively showy plant.
		Saxifraga 'Freckles' has rosettes of grey-green leaves, from which rise branched stems with many small white flowers, heavily speckled with dark red spots.
		Saxifraga x gaudinii 'Canis-dalmatica' is sometimes described as a form of Saxifraga callosa, but it is generally accepted to be a hybrid of S. cotyledon and S. paniculata (i.e. Saxifraga x gaudinii). It has rosettes of narrow leathery leaves, heavily lime-encrusted, and long arching stems with many white flowers strongly marked with bright red spots. (Have you ever seen a dalmatian dog with red spots? Nor have I.)
		Saxifraga 'Gorges du Verdon' is probably not the given name, but refers to where it was found. It is extremely vigorous, with lots of large rosettes with long leaves, and realtively tall stems with masses of white flowers.
		Saxifraga hostii is a handsome silver saxifrage with rosettes of long, narrow, recurved leaves, and tall stems carrying masses of small creamy white flowers, usually spotted red. It is easy and rewarding, but surprisingly rarely grown.
		Saxifraga 'Kath's Delight' has been circulated for a long time as 'Kath Dryden', but that name is not valid, as it applies to a Kabschia saxifrage, a hybrid of S. lilacina, whereas this plant is derived from S. longifolia. It needs a new name, and it has been suggested that our catalogue would be a suitable place to do that, so here we are! This is a delightful plant, and Kath would be proud of it, and she was a delight, too.
		Saxifraga 'Lantoscana Superba' is a silver saxifrage with rosettes of slender leaves, heavily lime-encrusted, which can make a dense clump. It has long arching stems bearing pure white flowers at the tip and along much of the length.
		Saxifraga 'Monarch' has large silver rosettes with narrow leaves. The arching sprays of white flowers look spectacular in the summer. Vigorous, and, rightly, highly regarded.
		Saxifraga paniculata subsp. cartilaginea has the usual rosettes of lime-encrusted leaves, and arching stems with very clean, pure white flowers.
		Saxifraga 'Rainsley Seedling' has trailing stems to the new rosettes and spoon-shaped leaves.
		Saxifraga 'Rosa Tubbs' is one of the splendid varieties that has huge stems carrying masses of white flowers, in this case with the petals covered with lots of red spots. It takes several years for the rosettes to grow to flowering size, but meanwhile their long, narrow, lime-encrusted leaves can be enjoyed. Then a few fabulous weeks, and the flowering rosette dies. However, in this variety there should be a good number of young offset rosettes, so the performance can be repeated, with even greater impact.
		Saxifraga Southside Seedling Group is a fine saxifrage with rosettes of broad leaves. When a rosette is large enough it sends up a long stem with a great plume of flowers, white with red spots. The flowering rosette dies, but long before this the one rosette will have fostered many offspring.
		Saxifraga 'St. John's' is very compact, and the silvery grey rosettes make a tight, hard cushion, with clusters of white flowers standing on short stems. This is a hybrid of Saxifraga crustata and S. paniculata.
		Saxifraga 'Sue Tubbs' is a first-rate saxifrage, which makes many rosettes of lime-encrusted broad leaves. When each rosette matures it produces a tall stem with a plume of flowers, white with lots of tiny red spots.
		Saxifraga 'Vreny' is a good saxifrage for a trough or raised bed, making tight cushions of grey-green rosettes, from which rise stems carrying masses of starry white flowers.