Practical
Plants

Chrysosplenium oppositifolium

Golden Saxifrage

a perennial member of the Chrysosplenium genus in the family Saxifragaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.15 m
Spread
0.5 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Flies, Beetles, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Flies, Beetles, Self

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - raw or cooked[3][5][9][1][6][7][8]. Added to salads or soups[2]. The leaves are rather small, and there is a distinct bitterness in the flavour, especially in 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[4].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Environment

Range
Western and central Europe, including Britain, from Norway to Spain, east to Germany and N. Italy.
Habitat
Acid soils[4] on the banks of springs and wet shady mountainsides[5][1][6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 5+
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. Requires a constantly wet but well-drained soil[4]. Prefers a shady position, succeeding in woodland[1][4].

References

  1. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  3. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  5. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

    ↩1↩2

  6. Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  7. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  8. Freethy. R. From Agar to Zenery. The Crowood Press 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-946284-51-2

    ↩

  9. Ceres. Free for All. Thorsons Publishers 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-7225-0445-4

    ↩

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