It fits into ornamental gardens, but can also be a great decoration for balconies and terraces. Its spectacular flowers appearing in spring attract bees and bumblebees, therefore it supports biodiversity. October is the ideal time to plant this hardy specimen. We are talking about saxifrage – a plant that “crushes rocks”.
The botanical name of saxifrage is Saxifraga derived from the Latin words “saxum” – “rock” and “frango” – to crush. That’s why it is said to be a plant that “breaks rocks.” It grows in crevices in rocks, which is why it looks like it is growing out of cracks.
Saxifrage belongs to the saxifrage family, which also includes other well-known specimens, such as bergenia, meadowsweet and rodgersia. It occurs in as many as 400 species and naturally grows on rocks in a temperate and cool climate.
You can successfully plant this plant in the garden if you provide it with appropriate conditions. It will then reward you with clustered or paniculate inflorescences in various colors, growing on delicate stems.. The characteristic feature of this specimen are fleshy, pubescent leaves that store water.
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Saxifrage can be planted in autumn, even in the second half of October. At this time, it will be able to take root before the frost arrives. First, we choose the appropriate position – it must be sunny or slightly shaded.
As for the substrate, yes it is best to plant this specimen in permeable, light soil with the addition of sand or gravel. Remember that this plant does not tolerate water stagnation. After all, it naturally grows on rocks from which water flows. Therefore, it is worth performing drainage.
Once we have chosen the right place, that’s it we dig 8-10 cm holes, pour a layer of gravel into them and place the seedlings, keeping a 15-20 cm distance between them. Finally, we pat the soil down and water it with a small amount of water.
As mentioned, Saxifrage does not like water stagnation, so it should not be watered too often. Irrigation should be moderate and regular in summer during hot weather. The Arendsa variety is most often planted in gardens and needs to be irrigated only in the event of a long-term lack of rain.
Fertilizing this specimen is not necessary, however we can enrich the soil with a small amount of compost to provide microelements and improve its structure. However, it is recommended to remove dried inflorescences after flowering. This treatment stimulates the plant to thicken the clumps.
