Saxifrage: description, types and varieties, reproduction, growing from seeds, planting in open ground, care (110+ Photos & Videos) + Reviews

The beauty of nature is unique, plants can exist and actively develop in the mountains, under not very favorable conditions, in deserts, on dry sands, on scarce lands that can give little. Incredibly beautiful flowers have a saxifrage, planting and caring for it are unusually simple. It will perfectly tolerate frosts and summer drought, while it will please the eye with small, but colorful flowers for a long time.

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Description

The saxifrage belongs more to mountain plants, its name speaks about it. Prefers to grow between stones with a minimum of nutrients and poor watering, but is a bright spot of any landscape design with stones. In addition, some varieties are used not only to give beautiful compositions, in medicine, medicines necessary for many are made from all parts of the plant.

Saxifrage (Saxifraga Caespitosa)

The natural habitats of the species are Eurasia, Central America, the mountainous areas of tropical Africa, it is under such natural conditions that the bole can develop perfectly. The saxifrage can be both annual and perennial, now there are more than 400 species of this plant. Blossoms bloom from May to August.

They differ from each other in external characteristics:

• come in different sizes
• Can be grown both outdoors and in pots

Leaves can also be a distinctive feature, in some species they are very small, and some are of medium size. There is a saxifrage whose foliage grows up to only 5 cm, some species can grow up to 70 cm in height. In this case, the bushes of the plant will completely cover the soil with a radius of up to 12 cm.

The leaves of the saxifrage are collected in a basal rosette, usually green. Sometimes the leafy part may have a bluish tint, it occurs due to the ability of the plant to accumulate lime in itself. Each leaf has several peduncles, which eventually open flowers of different colors with five petals.

Saxifrage paniculata

Flowers usually have delicate shades: pink, white, purple, yellow, some varieties are distinguished by red flowers. Some species have paniculate inflorescences, are cold-resistant and differ from their relatives in a complex root system. After flowering, in place of each flower, a seed box is formed with a large number of small grains. When sowing, not all will sprout, many will die from excess moisture.

Indoor varieties are most often ampelous, grow well and develop on the northern windows, but they still need light. This flower is not whimsical in care and planting, even a novice grower can grow it both indoors and in the garden. The saxifrage will do fine without moisture, and will grow even if it is not regularly fertilized.

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Species and varieties

In nature, there are more than 400 species of saxifrage, some of them are grown in the garden, others are preferable to have on the windowsill. In care, the plant is not picky, endures all difficulties and hardships.

The saxifrage is often used in landscape design, with the help of a flower you can create magnificent compositions. Often it is used as a border plant, sometimes flower beds are decorated with saxifrage so that it seems that a flower blanket has sent a certain area.

Alba saxifrage

Stony places can be ennobled with low-growing plants of mountain origin. Varieties feel great between the stones, gradually cover everything around with colorful small flowers.

Florists use far from all species, some remain wild. No more than a dozen are popular, now we will consider them in more detail.

Arendsa

The undersized hybrid is very popular with flower growers and landscape designers. It is used to add zest to classic front gardens, the plant looks great in the modern design of flower beds in the yard.

Arends' saxifrage

With the help of the view, the effect of a flower carpet is achieved on any type of soil, even in the most remote and shaded corners of the garden. Saxifrage Arends refers to decorative hybrids that are grown on the street.

The hybrid feels best in the north, where the climate and soils are ideal for it. Planted saxifrage in groups to quickly achieve the desired effect.

The main characteristics are:

• the plant reaches a height of 10-20 cm
• bushes are often intertwined
• the leaves are small, separate, have a rich green color
• flowering occurs in May-June

Suitable only for growing in flower beds, as a houseplant grows poorly. And then he dies.

Most often, the following varieties are used in the design of a garden and a personal plot:

• Purplemantel, whose name speaks for itself. The plant has low, up to 20 cm stems with purple-pink tassels.
• Blutenteppih forms a 15 cm mat with bright red flowers. The decorativeness of the plant is excellent, it is often used as a border plant, only at the same time extra bushes are regularly removed.
• Schneeteppich will help create a snow-white carpet in the summer. The saturated green of the leaves hardly breaks through the many white flowers, the leaves can reach a height of 10 cm.
• Flamingo has an identical color with a bird, delicate flowers will fit perfectly into any landscape design, will become an integral part of it. Seeds and seedlings of the variety are not yet very common in our country, but this is not for long, Flamingo is successfully gaining momentum.
• Peter Pan will perfectly fit into the alpine hill with any other ornamental plants, small pink flowers with yellow centers will not leave anyone indifferent. The openwork of small leaves is visible between the flowers and this gives a special charm to the variety.

hippo

Herbaceous perennial saxifrage, which is rarely grown for ornamental purposes. The stem can reach 70 cm in height, has unattractive umbrella inflorescences, but is an indispensable raw material in pharmacology. The distribution area is limited to the European part of Siberia and the Caucasus. It occurs in pine forests, in glades and edges, grassy slopes of highlands.

Saxifrage Thigh

Flowering occurs in May-June, the flowers themselves are not remarkable, small, white, collected in large umbrellas. For the production of medicines, all parts of the plant are used, especially the seeds and leaves are valued.

Soddy

The soddy plant species came to us from the northern regions of Eurasia and North America. The stem is characterized by a dense basal rosette of leaves, the lower ones have significant branching, the lower ones are more dense and upright. The leaf plates are painted in a dark green color, the lower ones have pronounced veins.

Saxifrage Soddy

The flowering of the saxifrage soddy is not long, usually no more than three weeks, but very beautiful. Small flowers can be pink, red, white. During the flowering period, the bole looks like a large pillow with a color print.You can admire the beauty in the month of June, depending on weather conditions, sometimes flowering is postponed to July.

room view

Indoor saxifrage is ideal for growing by amateur flower growers. Its unpretentiousness and excellent decorative qualities allow it to be used in the northernmost and dimly lit rooms. The ideal microclimate for the plant will be dry and cool air, which is often observed in winter in our apartments.

home view

The homeland of the bole is the mountainous regions of Japan and China, where, with the help of shoots, the plant clings between stones, then small roots form, which earn their livelihood on these meager soils. Gradually, the roots stimulate the growth of new leaves, so a new bush is formed.

The indoor view differs from other varieties of saxifrage in larger leaf plates, in addition, the headquarters will have a large number of antennae that look very impressive in a hanging planter.

The only important condition for home cultivation is minimal lighting; in bright light, room saxifrage leaves will become faded and inconspicuous. Gradually, the flower will begin to hurt and may die. The plant needs minimal watering, it is better to take soils that are light, with a high sand content.

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Reproduction methods

To get a good, healthy plant, you need to properly propagate it. The saxifrage is no exception to this, simply tearing off a branch and sticking it into the ground will not work. There is only a small chance that the plant will be accepted after this method; in order to surely have a saxifrage in your garden or house, you will have to study all known methods of its reproduction.

Young plant seedlings

The stem is propagated in several ways:

• seed, is carried out by sowing purchased seeds into the ground or through seedling cultivation
• cuttings, through the planting of young twigs with roots taken from whiter adult plants
• layering, the code side branches are cut off and transplanted to the right place
• dividing rosettes, while it is important to keep the rhizome on each part

Each of the methods is carried out in early spring or before winter., but it is worth counting so that the stalk or divided bush has time to take root in a new place.

Sprouts from seeds sown before winter should not be expected, the plant will make itself felt in early spring. The stem will please with flowering already in June-July, in the first year it may not be plentiful. In the following time, the saxifrage will only grow and delight the eye with a colorful veil.

Reproduction by seeds

Growing by seed

The seed method of reproduction most often involves seedling cultivation indoors, and then planting young plants in open ground. But some flower growers practice sowing grains directly into the ground.

For. To get the maximum possible number of saxifrage seedlings, it is necessary to properly sow the seeds.

The procedure is carried out like this:

• it is first necessary to staticize the seeds, for this a little ordinary sand is added to them, they are poured into a container and placed on the top shelf of the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks;
• the next step will be direct sowing into a container with soil, for this the soil is lightly tamped and sprinkled with seeds and sand, watered;
• it is desirable to cover the container with glass or wrap it with a film, this creates a greenhouse effect that accelerates the germination of plants;
• the first sprouts hatch after 10 days, then the plant will begin to develop more rapidly;
• when the stems have four true leaves, it is advisable to plant them in separate pots, this will allow them to grow faster and simplify transplanting into open ground.

After that, they wait for the soil to warm up enough and plant the saxifrage babies in the prepared soil. The first days you can water the plants moderately, and then the water should be completely excluded for the benefit of the plants.

Planting seedlings in open ground

Although the saxifrage is considered a frost-resistant plant, seedlings are planted only after frost on the ground has passed. After that, young seedlings of the plant can be planted on the prepared section of the flower bed or garden.

Plant ready for transplanting outdoors

To do this, the pots with seedlings are well watered, the soil is loosened at the chosen place and depressions are made. A seedling with a lump of soil is placed in each recess, sprinkled with soil from the garden, lightly tamped.

Additional watering should not be carried out, the stem will have enough moisture already received. The next watering can be carried out in 5-7 days if there was no precipitation during this period.It is worth placing the bushes according to the scheme 20 × 20 cm, so that they have room to grow later.

Sowing in the ground

Sowing seeds in open ground is also practiced, for this it is also necessary to prepare grains. They do not need to be statified, this process will take place naturally during the wintering period, but it will not hurt to disinfect.

Sowing seeds in open ground

To do this, the grains are soaked for several days in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or any fungicide.. After drying and mixing with sand. In the selected area, shallow grooves are made, up to 1.5 cm, and seeds are sown. The grooves are lightly covered with garden soil and watered.

It is best to carry out the procedure in early spring, but sowing is also possible before winter. You should not expect one hundred percent germination, the saxifrage reproduces poorly by this method. In the spring, after 25 days after the procedure, the seedlings did not appear, you can safely plant other plants in this place, the saxifrage will no longer appear.

cuttings

Cutting scheme

By this method, reproduction is carried out in July, after the end of the stem flowering period.

To do this, carry out the following:

• wet sand is collected in a box or container;
• in an adult plant, which is more than two years old, several young side shoots are cut;
• it is desirable to treat the cut with crushed charcoal in order to protect both the plant and the cuttings from diseases and pests;
• the cut parts are rooted in a container with sand, and in the fall they are planted in a permanent place;
• you can leave young seedlings to winter in the sand; for this, a cool place with low light is selected;
• in spring, overwintered cuttings are planted in open ground in the same way as saxifrage seedlings.

The division of the bush

This method is the most common, most often flower growers renew saxifrage or share plants with just a piece of a bush. Each spring, warmth and moisture stimulates the plant to start up additional side shoots and roots. Gradually, they turn into a full-fledged plant, which is connected to the main trunk with leaves. It is in this place that it is worth separating the young, but this should be done only after the end of flowering.

Bush division scheme

A shoot is cut off from an adult stem with a sharp knife, it is desirable to treat the cut site with wood ash. The resulting plant is treated with fungicides and planted in a previously prepared soil according to the scheme 20 cm × 20 cm. By winter, the young plant will take root, and in the spring of next year, you can wait for the first flowers.

layering

Reproduction by layering is quite popular, for carrying out it is not necessary to spend a lot of time and effort. It is enough to take a longer side outlet, make a small depression under it, pour it. Next, lay the layers and lightly sprinkle with garden soil, press down a little.

Reproduction scheme by layering

Periodically, in the absence of precipitation, the layers must be watered with small portions of settled water. In the fall, the layering will already have its roots, but you should not finish it, it is better to do it in the spring. It is advisable to sprinkle the slices with ash, and transplant the layers together with the earthen clod to a permanent place of residence.

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Care

The saxifrage is considered a favorite of flower growers because of its unpretentiousness in care, but in order to have a beautifully designed discount, alpine slide or just a certain part of the garden, the plant needs to be surrounded by care. There are no particular difficulties in this, but the process must be taken responsibly.

Saxifrage Peter Pan

In order for the selected variety of saxifrage to bloom and grow, it is necessary to provide it with the following conditions:

• First of all, we choose the right place, it should be shady, direct sunlight will soon destroy the garden flower.
• Before planting, pay attention to the soil, it should not be heavy, not have stagnant moisture.
• During the growing season and flowering, saxifrage is rarely watered. It is necessary to moisten the soil only in cases where there is no precipitation for more than a month. But at the same time, watering is carried out moderately, preferably flowing, but it depends more on the soil.
• Loosening the earth around saxifrage plantations is necessary; this will save the bole from moisture stagnation. Provides oxygen access to the root collar.
• Weeding is also an important element of care, weeds will not contribute to the growth and development of the flower carpet, so it is better to clean them in a timely and regular manner.
• Pruning will help maintain an attractive appearance of garden plantings, after flowering it is necessary to remove all dry flower stalks and leaves.

In addition, a couple of times a month, adult boles need to be fed to stimulate flowering and better growth in the required areas. It should be borne in mind that not everything is suitable for saxifrage, first carefully study the necessary information. Universal means for the garden will not work, but now we will find out which ones will become ideal.

Plant nutrition

To stimulate growth and support the plant during the flowering period, it is necessary to feed, it is only important to know which ones are suitable and will not destroy the plant. The saxifrage is finicky, nitrogen-containing ones have a negative effect on it, a complex of minerals would be an ideal option.

Saxifraga Oppositifolia

But they also need to be entered in a special way:

• Fertilizers selected for saxifrage must be applied along with watering.
• Before preparing the solution, be sure to read the instructions and take exactly half of the indicated amount of the substance for the indicated amount of water.
• Mix thoroughly and water the plants.

It is advisable to loosen the soil well before applying, remove weeds and extra plants from the flower bed.

Preparing for the winter

All varieties of saxifrage perfectly tolerate the winter cold with its frosts, since most varieties come from ancestors from the north. But still, some varieties need help in wintering in order to protect and preserve them.

Saxifrage Juniper-leaved

Well-rooted plants tolerate winter well, their preparation consists in completely cutting off the ground part of the plant and covering it with dry leaves or spruce branches. The layer should not be very thick so that the air flow occurs normally, otherwise the plants can support and provoke the development of putrefactive diseases.

The soil

The saxifrage plant came to our gardens and flower beds mainly from mountainous regions or from very poor soils that are not suitable for most plants. She learned to take the maximum from such soil, to survive on it and at the same time also bloom. On good, nutrient-rich soils, the plant is unlikely to please with juicy greenery and flowering.

Saxifragha Arends

To enable the hybrid to fully open up, provide it with the right soil on which it will please the eye for a long time. To do this, preferably before disembarkation seedlings remove the top layer of garden soil, and in its place fill in a specially prepared soil mixture.

It is unlikely that you will be able to find such a composition in the store, so it is better to do it yourself, for this you will need:

The first four ingredients are taken in the same proportion, and it is enough to add a handful of pebbles to 5 liters of the finished soil mixture. The prepared soil is laid in the places where the saxifrage grows in the fall, during the winter and early spring it will compact, after which it will be possible to plant the plants.

When sowing seeds and propagating by cuttings, it is advisable to use the same soil; on heavier ones, young plants may not take root or constantly get sick and wither.

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Diseases and pests

A plant that needs attention

All varieties and types of saxifrage are characterized by increased resistance to many diseases and plant pests.

But sometimes, under certain circumstances, the bole can be affected:

• fungal diseases
• root rot
• powdery mildew
• mealybug
• spider mite
• aphids

Root rot is the result of fungal diseases that occur as a result of improper irrigation regimen or due to poor soil drainage.. The methods of combating these diseases are cardinal, diseased plants, along with rhizomes, are removed from the flower bed. The vacated space must be passed with fungicides and the soil is replaced.

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Compatibility in landscape design

A low-growing flower is often used in landscape design in a variety of combinations.. Its excellent ability to survive and grow on the poorest soils allows you to ennoble and tidy up the most unfavorable parts of the garden. It is enough to sprinkle rocky areas with a thin layer of garden soil and plant a couple of saxifrage bushes there, in a couple of years there will be a dense carpet of lush greenery and motley small flowers.

Alpine slide

As borders, saxifrage is combined with purslane, but this neighborhood will not last long, purslane must be constantly sown.

Large tubs with saxifrage are very popular., in winter they are admired indoors, only the temperature is selected appropriately.

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plant properties

Shaxifrage shadow variegata

Almost all types of saxifrage from the garden have medicinal properties, everything useful for the human body is found in leaf plates:

These substances have antitumor, antihemorrhoidal, antiseptic properties.A decoction soothes an exacerbation of asthma, relieves symptoms of vomiting and infectious diseases, inflammation of the genitourinary system and liver. Fresh leaves will alleviate the condition and will help eliminate purulent rashes on the skin.

Growing at home and in the garden

Saxifrage: description, types and varieties, reproduction, growing from seeds, planting in open ground, care (110+ Photos & Videos) + Reviews