Fortune's saxifrage

Fortune's saxifrage: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Compact clump about 30 cm tall and wide.

Foliage

Glossy, round to kidney-shaped, lobed with a toothed edge, on long leaf stalks.

Flower

Loose sprays of white or pink stars with five petals: the two lower petals are much longer than the others. From September to November.

Roots

Short rhizome with fibrous roots; it needs humus-rich, moist soil.

Flowering: September–November · Plants: March–May and September · Pruning: March

Why grow it?

• Flowers from September to November, when most shade plants have finished.
• Glossy, elegant foliage that stays attractive all season.
• Compact clump of about 30 cm: ideal for small shade borders and at the foot of shrubs.
• The late flowers are a food source for bees.
• Hardy enough for Belgian gardens (to about −20 °C).

Fortune's saxifrage: where does it grow best?

• Partial shade to shade; sheltered from cold wind and early frost.
• Humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil: loam or clay, acid to neutral.
• Moderately moist; do not let it dry out in summer.
• Allow 30 cm per plant.

Light

Partial shade and shade

Soil type

Loam or clay

Acidity

Acid or neutral

Moisture

Normal

Size

0.3 m tall, 0.3 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -20 °C)

Goes well with

• Autumn cyclamen: Flowers in the same autumn shade; small flowers above low leaves.
• Japanese anemone: A late flowerer that tolerates the same partial shade.
• Ferns: A fresh, green shade planting.
• Hosta: Large leaves that contrast with the small stars.

Fortune's saxifrage: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–May and September.

1. Plant in March–May or in September, when the soil is not frozen or waterlogged.
2. Mix a few spadefuls of compost or leaf mould into the soil of the planting hole.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as in its pot, with the crown at soil level.
4. Leave 30 cm between plants.
5. Water thoroughly straight away and keep the soil moist in the first year.
6. Spread a layer of leaf mould around the plant as mulch.

Care

Water

Keep the soil moist; water generously at the base in dry summers.

Feeding

A layer of compost in spring is enough.

Mulching

A layer of leaf mould in spring keeps the soil moist; an extra layer in November protects against frost.

Slugs

Protect the young leaves in spring; slugs love the soft shoots.

Tidying

In March remove dried leaves and spent flower stems.

Tip: Plant it in a sheltered shady spot with humus-rich soil: the late flowers colour the autumn. Protect it from slugs in spring.

Fortune's saxifrage: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March.

When: In March, before the new leaves come through.

How:

• It is hardly pruned: only cut away dead leaves and spent flower stems.
• Do not cut healthy green foliage; it is the beauty of the plant.
• Use sharp secateurs and clear away the clippings.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division

In March–April, divide the clump with a spade into pieces with roots and shoots, and replant at once.

Seed

In spring, scatter the fine seed on the surface and barely cover it; keep the soil moist.

Fortune's saxifrage: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −20 °C.

• Hardy to about −20 °C: light protection is enough in Belgian winters.
• In November, cover the clump with a layer of leaves or compost. In hard frost the foliage may shrivel; it grows back in spring.
• In a pot: stand it against a wall, or move it to a bright, frost-free place in hard frost.

Diseases and pests

• Slugs: They eat young leaves in spring. Collect them in the evening and protect the plants.
• Vine weevil: The grubs eat the roots: the plant wilts and comes loose. Biological nematodes in the soil help.
• Frost damage to flowers: Late flowers can freeze on a cold November night. Choose a sheltered spot.
• Drought: Leaf edges turn brown. Water generously and mulch the soil.

Through the year

• March: Cut away dead leaves and spent stems. Plant or divide.
• April: Plant or divide. Watch for slugs.
• May: Plant. Apply mulch. Watch for slugs.
• June: Water in dry weather.
• July: Water in dry weather.
• August: Keep the soil moist; flower buds form.
• September: Flowering begins. Plant.
• October: Full flower.
• November: Last flowers. Protective layer of leaves or compost.
• December: Dormant.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• Robert Fortune (1812–1880) collected plants in China and Japan and, among other things, took tea plants from China to India.
• The flowers are asymmetrical: the two lower petals are much longer than the three upper ones.