Practical
Plants

Saxifraga fortunei

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.4 m
Spread
0.4 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

Young leaves - cooked[2]. They are added to soups or cooked with rice[3].

Plant part
Leaves

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea, Siberia.
Habitat
Wet shaded rocks by streams in the mountains and down to sea-level in the north of its range[4]. Forests and rock crevices at elevations of 2200 - 2900 metres in Hubei, S Jilin and Liaoning[6].
Shade tolerance
partial shade
Water
moderate
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[5]. Grows well in light woodland[5] or in a shady position in a rock garden. The plant is hardy to at least -15°c[4], the leaves and the flowers, however, are liable to be damaged by autumn frosts[5]. A polymorphic species[7], there are several named forms selected for their ornamental value[4].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  4. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

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  7. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

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