Chrysosplenium alternifolium
Golden Saxifrage
a perennial member of the Chrysosplenium genus in the family Saxifragaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Saxifragaceae
- Genus
- Chrysosplenium
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.3 m
- Spread
- 0.5 m
- Fertility
- Self fertile, Beetles, Flies, Self
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Beetles, Flies, Self
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Leaves - raw[5][7][8][9][1][3]. Added to salads[4]. The leaves are rather small, and there is a distinct bitterness in the flavour, especially during hot weather[K].
- Plant part
- Leaves
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The plants creeping habit makes it a good ground cover for the bog garden[6].
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Soil surface
Environment
- Range
- Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south to C. France, east to C. Asia and the Himalayas.
- Habitat
- Acid soils[6] by the sides of streams, wet rocks and wet ground in woods, usually in shade[2].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- high
- Hardiness
- Zone 4+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow spring or autumn in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame. Stand the pot in 2cm of water. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a tray of water in the cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer or following spring.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in most soils if they are moist[6]. Requires a constantly wet but well-drained soil[6]. Prefers a shady position, succeeding in woodland[6].
References
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Freethy. R. From Agar to Zenery. The Crowood Press 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-946284-51-2