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Alpine Rockery

Saxifraga caesia L. (8)

blue-green saxifrage

A cushion-forming, evergreen alpine, made up of tiny rosettes of spoon-shaped, blue-green leaves with lime-encrusted edges. Upright stems to 10cm high bear sprays of 4-5 white flowers in early summer

Other common names

gray saxifrage
silver moss saxifrage

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Ultimate height

Up to 10cm

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Alkaline

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Saxifragaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Matforming
Genus: Saxifraga can be annuals, biennials, evergreen or herbaceous perennials, mostly mat-forming in habit, with simple or palmately lobed leaves and starry or rounded flowers which may be solitary of in panicles or cymes
Name status: Correct
Horticultural Group: Ligulatae section saxifrages are evergreen perennials forming monocarpic rosettes, usually clustered, of narrowly strap-shaped or oblong, lime-encrusted leaves, with sprays of small white, pale yellow or pink flowers in late spring or early summer
Plant range: C & S Europe

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, very well-drained, alkaline soil, with protection from hot sun and winter wet. Suitable for a rock garden, trough or alpine house

Propagation

Propagate by detaching rosettes and rooting as cuttings in late spring or early summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Gravel garden
Rock garden

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, slugs, vine weevil and glasshouse red spider mite when grown under glass

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

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