Other Names:  Strawberry Begonia, Creeping Rockfoil

Description:

Neither a strawberry or begonia, but has characteristics of both plants; a beautiful, ground spreading plant with rounded leaves that turn golden in sunlight; shaded leaves tend to be more green; dainty white flowers on tall stems in late spring

Ornamental Features

Creeping Saxifrage has masses of beautiful spikes of white star-shaped flowers with gold eyes and hot pink spots rising above the foliage from mid spring to early summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. Its attractive serrated round leaves remain dark green in color with distinctive silver veins throughout the year.

Landscape Attributes

Creeping Saxifrage is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Creeping Saxifrage is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Creeping Saxifrage will grow to be only 6 inches tall at maturity extending to 15 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 12 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 10 inches apart. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in partial shade to shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division.

Creeping Saxifrage is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.