Creeping saxifrage is an ornamental plant used outdoors in many countries, not least because of its ease of cultivation, resistance to disease and rapid naturalization. Although its resistance to cold means it can be grown almost anywhere in Europe, it’s a little too cold to grow in Canada. Fortunately, it can also be used as a low-maintenance houseplant with an original shape.
Origin
It’s known as creeping saxifrage, strawberry saxifrage, creeping rockfoil, Aaron’s beard, mother of thousands, roving sailor, and strawberry begonia or strawberry geranium.. It goes by many names, but it’s neither a begonia nor a geranium (and even less a sailor). In fact, Saxifraga stolonifera is a herbaceous plant in the Saxifrage genus, a genus of almost 465 species of saxifrage belonging to the Saxifragaceae family.
The creeping saxifrage is currently the only one grown indoors, but many other saxifrages are used in ornamental gardens (S. oppositifolia, S. paniculata or S. longifolia, to name but a few). Saxifrage is native to eastern Asia, notably China, Japan and Korea, and has spread to Europe and North America.
Description
Saxifrages are small, low plants with a rosette of serrated, usually olive-green leaves. The leaves have darker or silvery veins, providing an ornamental contrast, and their undersides are purple.
During its flowering period, it produces red runners set with a series of small, five-petaled flowers, of which the three smaller ones at the top are slightly pink in hue, and the two larger ones at the bottom are white. Taken separately, the flowers are not particularly beautiful, but they can come in numbers of seven to sixty, for a more attractive show.
However, in indoor conditions, they don’t flower systematically. Saxifrages don’t really grow in height, but they do spread rapidly in width. Like spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) or strawberries (Fragaria), they produce red stolons at the end of which grow miniature saxifrages. These plants are therefore particularly attractive in hanging baskets.
Varieties
There are few cultivars of stoloniferous varieties. In addition to the basic form, with olive-green leaves with silver veins, there are the following cultivars:
- ‘Maroon Beauty’, whose olive-green leaves have brown veins and undersides, as the name suggests. This dark hue is particularly noticeable on new leaves;
- ‘Harvest Moon’, a variety with chartreuse leaves that are almost entirely yellow, and red edges and undersides. Naturally, it requires more light than the above-mentioned versions.
- ‘Tricolor’, a variegated version whose leaves are hemmed in cream and, in the right light, turn pink like their undersides. Again, brighter light is required, but beware of direct sunlight which can burn the paler part. This saxifrage is more delicate to grow than the basic species and is also more cold-weathered.
Growing Tips
Light
Saxifrage requires bright light, such as windows facing east or west in the northern hemisphere. If the plant is well watered and healthy, direct sunlight should not be a problem, except for intense zenith rays during the summer season.
Watering
Saxifrage is a fast-growing plant. It can require a lot of water during its growth period. A constantly moist (but not soggy) potting soil reduces the risk of the leaves drying out. When the plant is resting or in low light, such as in winter, the potting soil can be allowed to dry out slightly.
Atmospheric Humidity
Saxifrage tolerates dry air fairly well, but benefits from humidity if it’s available. On the other hand, high atmospheric humidity increases the risk of leaf diseases. It is generally advisable to avoid wetting the leaves, as, like many other pubescent plants, they can develop diseases.
Potting Soil and Potting
Traditional houseplant potting soil is suitable for saxifrage, which adapts to almost any natural soil. When repotting, take care not to damage the stolons, which are rather fragile. Fortunately, saxifrages tolerate being cramped in their pots very well.
Fertilizers
Saxifrage can be fed during its growth period with an all-purpose fertilizer.
Temperature
Saxifrage prefers temperatures between 10°C and 18°C (50°F and 64°F), especially at night. However, it can tolerate much higher temperatures, up to 32°C (89°F), and at the other extreme, brief frosts. Beware of cultivars that can be more frigid: it’s best to keep them at least at 10°C (50°F).
Maintenance
As with most rosette plants, no pruning is required for saxifrage. Occasionally, you’ll need to remove a dried leaf (the leaves are actually quite difficult to remove, offering resistance even when completely dry). If you don’t like the sight of stolons hanging down, you can simply put them back in the original pot and detach them from the mother plant, preferably with a chisel, once they’ve taken root. The pot will be all the fuller for it. Over time, the mother plant becomes a little cranky and less attractive than before. At this point, it’s best to renew it by taking cuttings from the runners.
Multiplication
Nothing could be easier: the plant produces its own offspring. By depositing them in slightly damp potting soil, they will continue to be nourished by the healthy mother plant, from which they can be weaned once they have taken root. The babies will produce roots within a few weeks.
What About Outdoor Growing?
Saxifraga stolonifera forms a ground cover that quickly naturalizes in the garden. Towards May-June, earlier or later depending on the climate, it is covered with small flowers. In temperate zones, its foliage is evergreen, deciduous if the weather is too cold. Indoors and out, it’s easy to grow, with little disease, but watch out for slugs!
- Light: it thrives in shade or part shade;
- Watering: it requires no water when well rooted, generally in the year following initial planting;
- Soil: tolerates both clay and sandy soils, and both acidic and basic soils;
- Hardiness: zone 7 (6 to 9 USDA). However, it requires winter protection in colder regions. More colorful varieties may be more sensitive to cold. In most parts of Canada, it will be considered an annual, not at all suited to outdoor winter conditions.
Problems
- Pests: S. stolonifera can be attacked by spider mites, aphids and scale insects. Outside, by slugs;
- Yellowing basal leaves: it’s normal for the oldest leaf to start dying over time. If the plant produces new ones, there’s no need to worry;
- Yellowing leaves: when several leaves turn yellow at the same time, the plant has often been overwatered. It may also have started to rot. Should the mother plant fail to survive, multiply it with its stolons;
- Dry foliage: this is often a combination of lack of water or too much direct sunlight (particularly during drought periods);
- Lack of flowers: the plant may be too young, constantly damp or lacking light;
- Leaf spots: these are foliar diseases. Affected foliage should be removed, and splashes on the leaves avoided (e.g. by basin irrigation), perhaps even by reducing humidity slightly.
Toxicity
In Japanese cuisine, the leaves are used raw or cooked. Nor is it toxic to cats and dogs. But I would never recommend eating a plant that hasn’t been grown specifically for consumption!
Saxifraga stolonifera is easy to grow, easy to propagate and has original leaf shapes and textures. It’s a lovely plant to hang in bright windows, where its ribbed leaves and bright red stolons will brighten up any room.
Saxifrage ‘Tricolor’ and I, a Love Story
When writing these articles, there is always a balance to be struck between information obtained from official sources and my own growing experience. For example, I feel comfortable stating that dead leaves are difficult to remove from saxifrage, compared to most other plants, even if this isn’t necessarily mentioned in my research.
Larry Hodgson says that the plant is of “medium” difficulty. I would have called it “very easy” (hence the compromise of considering it “easy” in this article ). My variegated saxifrage gave me no problems. I put it in a corner of my living room where it gets a little light (but close to a lamp), I probably overwatered it since the potting soil stays moist for weeks, and yet it faithfully produces new leaves and runners for me, I don’t know how. Next, the Laidback Gardener says that the variegated version requires intense lighting, but my experience is quite different. The leaves on my saxifrage are bright pink (and particularly pretty). I’m certainly not giving it bright light!
So, what about it? Maybe I’ve got an especially robust specimen. Or maybe the saxifrage assimilates ordinary lamp light (which isn’t even a grow lamp) particularly well, and therefore grows as if it were under intense lighting. Maybe there’s a new cultivar on the market (hybridizers work tirelessly to offer new, more beautiful or stronger plants – perhaps this new cultivar photosynthesizes better than the previous one)…
Or maybe we’re back to the mystery that has always puzzled gardeners: my friend takes care of his croton (Codiaeum variegatum) anyhow and the plant bursts into flames, while with my best care and endless research, my spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum), reputed to be ultra-easy, dies for no reason. Sometimes, there’s just no reason… How was your experience with Saxifraga stolonifera ‘Tricolor’? “Very easy » or “Medium”?
Thank you for covering them so well. I really liked what you said at the end with your own plant.