Saxifraga cortusifolia
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Saxifragaceae
- Genus
- Saxifraga
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.4 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Edible uses
Leaves - raw or cooked[2].
- Plant part
- Leaves
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - Japan.
- Habitat
- Wet shaded places, especially on rocks and along streams in mountains, C. and S. Japan[4].
- Shade tolerance
- partial shade
- Water
- high
- Hardiness
- Zone 7+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a cold frame in the spring. Surface sow, or only just cover the seed, and make sure that the compost does not dry out. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.
Cultivation
Prefers a cool position in a moist humus-rich soil[1]. Prefers an acid soil[3]. Grows well in light woodland[3] or in a shady position in the rock garden. This species is not very hardy in Britain according to one report[1], whilst another says that it is in climatic zone 7 and should therefore succeed outdoors in most parts of this country[3]. However, the leaves and the flowers are liable to be frost-damaged by autumn frosts[3]. A polymorphic species[1], it is closely related to S. stolonifera, differing in not having runners[3].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00