Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Specific Families and Genera => Saxifraga => Topic started by: ruweiss on February 23, 2014, 09:03:41 PM

Title: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ruweiss on February 23, 2014, 09:03:41 PM
Flowering of Saxifrages starts quite early in my garden
the pictures are from today
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: krisderaeymaeker on February 25, 2014, 10:03:10 PM
Flowering of Saxifrages starts quite early in my garden
the pictures are from today

Beautiful Rudi ! Here they also starting . This S. 'Cumulus ' looks very promising .
Also first flowers on Saxifraga 'Sissi ' ? (lost my label ) and on Saxifraga 'Verona '
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on February 26, 2014, 09:39:27 AM
Nice start to the season.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: fixpix on February 27, 2014, 12:56:34 PM
Wonderful!
Saxifraga climbs a few positions in my top every time I see new pictures...
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on February 27, 2014, 01:54:37 PM
A couple from me :


Clockwise starting from top left : Sax. 'Coolock Kate' 'Mary Golds' and 'Lana' 


I love S. 'J.W. Goethe' in bud !
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on February 27, 2014, 02:46:50 PM
Very nice Luc, I really ought to get my act together as far as Saxes are concerned. They look very happy in your tufa bed, do you leave them uncovered all year?
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on February 27, 2014, 02:56:00 PM
Very nice Luc, I really ought to get my act together as far as Saxes are concerned. They look very happy in your tufa bed, do you leave them uncovered all year?

Thanks David.
Yes, they have to cope with all that nature throws at them !
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on February 27, 2014, 03:15:44 PM
Thanks David.
Yes, they have to cope with all that nature throws at them !

Good to know Luc. Had they been here they would have been buried in around 4cm of hail stones an hour ago!
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on February 27, 2014, 03:28:35 PM
Good to know Luc. Had they been here they would have been buried in around 4cm of hail stones an hour ago!

oops.... it was plain rainwater here, David !  ;D
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: fixpix on February 28, 2014, 08:44:52 AM
Can someone explain to a real novice (=ME) does Saxifraga need to be growing on plain rocks?
I mean is this by its own choice, or a necessity?
Is it because it likes it, or because it's the only place where it doesn't have any competition from bigger, stronger plants?
I am trying to germinate a few kinds (and Androsace too) and I am wondering where I'm gonna plant them.
The thing is, we have very hot (35-40 C) and very dry without rains for months sometimes.
As my small flower garden is 10 km away and I visit maybe 2-3 times a week I am afraid they would dry out if I perch them on top of some rocks.
Would they be OK in a raised bed with nicely mixed grit in the soil?

Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on February 28, 2014, 10:01:16 AM
Can someone explain to a real novice (=ME) does Saxifraga need to be growing on plain rocks?
I mean is this by its own choice, or a necessity?
Is it because it likes it, or because it's the only place where it doesn't have any competition from bigger, stronger plants?
I am trying to germinate a few kinds (and Androsace too) and I am wondering where I'm gonna plant them.
The thing is, we have very hot (35-40 C) and very dry without rains for months sometimes.
As my small flower garden is 10 km away and I visit maybe 2-3 times a week I am afraid they would dry out if I perch them on top of some rocks.
Would they be OK in a raised bed with nicely mixed grit in the soil?

They would, fixpix, they would be ok in a gritty soil.
On tufa rock they tend to be more compact and as the rock holds water quite well, they can easilly cope with a drought once they are established (after about 1 growing year) But there's no objection in growing them in a gritty soil, they will do fine !
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: fixpix on February 28, 2014, 01:19:31 PM
Thank you, that's good news!
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ChrisB on March 05, 2014, 04:36:16 PM
I've had this sax. Over 20 years now.  It took a long time to settle but once I'd removed a nearby daphne it's started to thrive.  This is its best yr ever for bloom.  Label said S.Prinz Hal when I bought it but open to suggestion for what really is as that name not in Plantfinder.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on March 05, 2014, 04:51:07 PM
What a cracker, Christine - I'd be very pleased with that.  Seems right to name too - Rob P. is out of stock of it right now, but has a photo :
https://pottertons.co.uk/pott/view_product.php?pid=1984 (https://pottertons.co.uk/pott/view_product.php?pid=1984)  and another  pic :
http://www.uib.no/arboretet/artikler/2009/03/tidleg-vaarbloming-i-botanisk-hage-paa-milde (http://www.uib.no/arboretet/artikler/2009/03/tidleg-vaarbloming-i-botanisk-hage-paa-milde)
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on March 05, 2014, 04:53:41 PM
I would be pleased with that too.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Matt T on March 05, 2014, 04:55:30 PM
Plantfinder works if you search for 'Prince Hal' rather than 'Prinz Hal'.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ChrisB on March 05, 2014, 04:56:06 PM
Ayah thanks Matt
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: fixpix on March 06, 2014, 09:27:58 AM
A really nice one, Chris.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ChrisB on March 06, 2014, 09:40:34 AM
Maggi - I reckon that's where I got all those years ago.  Used to visit the nursery when we went to Scunny to visit my brother.  Back then it was Potterton & Martin....
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ChrisB on March 06, 2014, 04:20:58 PM
Sax. oppositifolia in a sink.  I think the reason it's done this well over 20 years in the same location is down to the hyper tufa coating on the Belfast sink.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on March 06, 2014, 05:06:32 PM
Nice Chris. If it ever stops raining I'll have a look at mine.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ChrisB on March 06, 2014, 05:49:01 PM
Feel so bad for you folks in the South West... You've really had a dollop this winter.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on March 06, 2014, 07:00:10 PM
And how. I've begun to have kindred feelings with ducks! Having said that it's the poor folks who live on the Somerset levels I feel sorriest for.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Tim Ingram on March 14, 2014, 11:15:20 PM
Very nice saxes Chris - we've always struggled with these in the dry south-east but aim to go and see the collection at Waterperry and grow more in future years. Encouraging to see strong clumps of 'Prince Hal' over 20 years old. We are promised two more large Butler troughs so may devote one to saxifrages.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on March 17, 2014, 07:30:18 PM
One from the garden today:-

Saxifraga x boydilacina 'Alan Martin'
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ChrisB on March 18, 2014, 08:45:43 AM
Sax. Tromso mentioned by Robert Rolfe in his bit about Sax. Breeding.  One of Karel Lang's cultivars.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on March 18, 2014, 09:18:05 AM
Nice Chris. By the looks of this thread there's only thee and me growing a few saxes in the UK ;D
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Michael J Campbell on March 18, 2014, 09:57:20 AM
Careful David or I will start posting pictures of Saxes. :P
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on March 18, 2014, 10:08:15 AM
I'm encouraging you Michael ;D
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Michael J Campbell on March 18, 2014, 10:20:32 AM
Saxifraga Your Song.
Saxifraga Myra.
Saxifraga ? can't find the label as it is buried under the plant .
Saxifraga ? lost label,could be Primrose dame?
Saxifraga longifolia.

Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Michael J Campbell on March 18, 2014, 10:21:22 AM
Saxifraga longifolia, thinking about flowering.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Mike Ireland on March 18, 2014, 11:27:37 AM
Hope your not feeling too lonely David.
Will these Saxifraga help?
Like Michael most labels are now under the cushions.
Trough includes :-
Sax Tenerife
Sax Pablo Picasso
Sax kotschyi x wendelboi & Allendale Goblin
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on March 18, 2014, 12:03:58 PM
That's great Mike. It's always good to see how others grow them and an important use of the Forum for participants to pick up tips.

Do you cover them at all to protect them from wet or just leave them to get on with it?
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Mike Ireland on March 18, 2014, 12:14:32 PM
David, they are just left to their own devices.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on March 18, 2014, 12:44:13 PM
I know there are some  saxifraga species that very difficult to grow and which are grown under glass and make fine show plants when they are grown well- but the joy of these plants to me is the 
species and the sheer number of hybrids that are both available and easy to grow.  The pleasure to be had all year from the likes of a trough of saxes, as shown by Mike, above, is tremendous. Great little cushions of differing foliage then the  fun of the flowers in just about any colour you fancy - and all able to manage pretty well by themselves in the garden, on a terrace, a balcony, a doorstep -  what more could  be asked of a little plant? 
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Matt T on March 18, 2014, 02:00:50 PM
...also easy to propagate, wind resistant, cheap to acquire...the list of merits goes on! I only have 'Your Song' in a mixed alpine trough at the mo, but will soon be looking to pick up a few for a new Sax-only trough.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ChrisB on March 18, 2014, 02:41:55 PM
Mike the troughs look wonderful.  I think I'm going to do one too but before I start want to get a bag of limestone chunks.  We only have sandstone hereabouts and the saxifrages definitely do better with some limestone around them.  I may just take the BDs advice and use concrete chunks if I can't find the limestone I want.  Was thinking too that it might be better to exhibit them amidst limestone. My Prince Hal has it's roots tucked under our paving slabs and I think that's why it has survived here all these years.  We came in 1995 so I think it's settled in nicely to stay alive so long without any dead spots appearing in its middle.  Here it is in full bloom today
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Tim Ingram on March 18, 2014, 07:34:25 PM
Really wonderful sax. troughs! This has tempted me to pull Malcolm McGregor's tour de force of the genus off my shelves and again to see how beautifully written and informative books can be. Did anyone see that extraordinary picture of Saxifraga florulenta that Cliff directed people to on the AGS website? Isn't alpine gardening extraordinary.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on March 18, 2014, 07:46:39 PM

Did you mean Cliff's link to this video (and others just as good) ?
Hard to find anything on the AGS site with no search facility.

The Ancient King: Saxifraga florulenta (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9spOQ2URnk#ws)
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Roma on March 18, 2014, 08:44:50 PM
That trough is lovely, Mike.  I've been meaning to do that with saxifragas for years.  I think you have just spurred me on enough to get on with it.  I have some in an overgrown raised bed and some in pots, all looking a bit worse for wear.  I have potted some Irishman's cuttings from the raised bed and ripped up and potted bits of some of the others so have plenty material to get started with.  It will have to be granite, not tufa though or maybe I could try smashing up a concrete block.  Husband will probably complain.  He does not understand my plant addiction.
 
Saxifraga cinerea
Saxifraga 'Quarry Wood'
Saxifraga 'Redpoll'
 
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ruweiss on March 18, 2014, 09:44:04 PM
Some plants flowering now:

    Sax. burseriana
    Sax. Jan Neruda
    S. opp. Theoden Seedling
    Sax. opp. rudolphiana
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Tim Ingram on March 19, 2014, 06:25:03 AM
Oh, at last a gardener's world for gardeners Maggi! I would be very proud to have made a film like that.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: K-D Keller on March 19, 2014, 09:17:11 AM
Some Saxifraga from my garden.

First picture: Names beginning front left to right.
Winifred, yellow (lost lable) :(, Eduard Manet
x kellereri, Judith Shackleton
Klondike, S. burseriana

The other pictures: Saxifraga federici-augusti, Saxifraga iranica, Saxifraga x apiculata „Gregor Mendel“, Saxifraga oppositifolia.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on March 19, 2014, 02:59:22 PM
Lovely Saxes all.


Some of mine:-
Saxifraga apiculata 'Gregor mendel'
S. anglica 'Cranbourne'
S. 'Peach Melba'
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ChrisB on March 19, 2014, 03:03:45 PM
My Peach Melba has a similar habit David flowers few and far between I've not seen it on the show bench much either.  However the flowers it does have are lovely...
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ChrisB on March 19, 2014, 03:10:55 PM
This is my S. Claude Monet.  Got it direct from Karel Lang last yr.  flowers don't seem to open wide.  Not sure I like it much.  A candidate for a trough I'm afraid...
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Michael J Campbell on March 19, 2014, 04:10:36 PM
Saxifraqga Jenkinsae.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on March 19, 2014, 04:28:54 PM
What a lovely potfull Michael.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ChrisB on March 19, 2014, 04:32:36 PM
A sight for sore eyes Michael
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Lesley Cox on March 19, 2014, 09:29:45 PM
Going back a couple of pages, Chris, is S. oppositifolia a lime lover? For some reason and inspite of the little encrusted dots on the foliage, it always looks to me NOT to be lime loving and so I've played safe and refrained from letting it have any, going for a peaty compost instead. I have lost every one I've had!. I have another now, of 'Ruth Draper' doing well in a trough, still without lime, but much grittier. Should I give it some lime?  Love the 'Tromso.' It's doing nicely here too. ;D

As well as Michael, I happen to know that those moderators have a nice selection of Lang saxes. Perhaps they'll be blooming now or soon?
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on March 19, 2014, 09:39:46 PM
Indeed, the BD and I do have a very nice collection of Lang saxes - direct from the man himself in the Czech Rebublic, thanks to a  kind gift.  8)   Ian is photographing them as they come into flower - I expect they will appear in the Bulb Log in due course.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ChrisB on March 20, 2014, 06:50:54 AM
I'm no expert Lesley but I gave up on S oppositifolia in the garden after I'd killed several good ones and decided to keep any more I acquired in troughs where I could offer them more lime.   Those ones so far have survived.  Funnily, that was the first I ever had and I had no idea at the time that it could be difficult to grow.  I once got a lovely clear white form but having put it in the garden it withered away.  I was upset about losing it but learned my lesson....

Maggi - mine are all coming out nicely now too.  Some of them were tossed about in my box when they got here so I had to keep them separate with upside down labels until they flower so I can I'd them but now there's just one more to go.... I lost just one of them... Not bad.  Tromso may be headed for the show bench next year if it continues to flourish like it is doing now...
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Matt T on March 25, 2014, 09:24:34 AM
Did you mean Cliff's link to this video (and others just as good) ?

Only just found time to watch this. A lovely and inspirational film - inspiring foreign plant hunting travels and a desire for a similar spotlight on the Scottish mountain flora.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on March 26, 2014, 08:03:16 PM
Some Saxifraga from the garden today:-

Saxifraga oppositifolia 'Theoden' (going brown in the middle of the clump too-help?)
S. 'Allendale Bamby'
S. kellerii 'Suendermanii Major'
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on March 26, 2014, 08:06:36 PM
Saxifraga oppositifolia 'Theoden' (going brown in the middle of the clump too-help?)

A problem that we were speaking about  re Sax. oppositifolia and its forms, with Stan da Prato in the garden yesterday, David. He didn't have an answer either.......
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on March 26, 2014, 08:13:44 PM
 ??? :(
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Roma on March 28, 2014, 10:20:47 PM
Saxifraga 'Quarry Wood'
Saxifraga cinerea
An unnamed Sax from Lismore.  This is the best I have seen it flower.  It usually starts off brick red then fades quickly to a biscuit colour but this year the flowers are staying a nice peachy colour for longer.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on March 30, 2014, 05:08:03 PM
Nice ones Roma.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ChrisB on March 30, 2014, 05:25:18 PM
A problem that we were speaking about  re Sax. oppositifolia and its forms, with Stan da Prato in the garden yesterday, David. He didn't have an answer either.......
Been reading the AGS bulletin article about its requirements.  By pure accident my one in the Belfast sink is kept in the shade from my birch tree all summer when it might get scorched...
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Matt T on March 30, 2014, 06:27:42 PM
Whenever I've seen Sax.opp. in the wild it's always tucked away in shady crevices, north facing rocks and the like, anywhere it doesn't get too much direct sun.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ruweiss on March 30, 2014, 07:56:51 PM
Saxifraga Cassini (aretioides x dinnikii)
a new cross from Karel Lang. G. Stopp offers 108 (!) different crosses
in his new list.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Tim Ingram on April 02, 2014, 08:30:30 AM
What an amazing colour! Karel Lang was selling plants at Jiri's garden last May but at the time I was more fascinated by the dwarf conifers being grown in so many Czech gardens. I now know that we should start growing a lot more saxifrages! (which I should have known anyway since David Hoare is a member of the Kent Groups). Where does that colour come from when aretioides is yellow and dinnikii purple-pink? The wonders of genetics!
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ChrisB on April 02, 2014, 10:34:51 AM
It was easy to be distracted in Jiris garden Tim.    I really didn't want to leave....
But I had preordered from Karels list sent out earlier so just had to collect...

But I know I cannot obtain the tufa one needs to create sax troughs so I am going to have to use something else.  Does anyone know what I should look for?  When I go to the garden centre and see bins of rocks I really don't know which ones are limestone.  Is there a clue?  I know if I ask staff they are not going to understand what I'm looking for or else don't care...  And does anyone know whether slate is acidic or alkaline?  I got some quite nice slate chunks at the garden centre the other day was supposed to be for fish tank so I assumed it is probably neutral but not sure now...
If I buy one big rock I thought we might be able to smash it with our sledgehammer to make the chunk sizes I want and that wouldn't be too expensive.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on April 02, 2014, 10:51:08 AM
...................If I buy one big rock I thought we might be able to smash it with our sledgehammer to make the chunk sizes I want.....

They are good at that in Dartmoor Prison, so I'm told. I have no direct experience of course ;D
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ranunculus on April 02, 2014, 10:55:13 AM
Hi Chris,
Personally, I wouldn't be too worried about the composition of the 'rock' structure for your sax' collection.  The compost (growing medium) is of greater importance.  I have been growing cushion sax's very successfully between small flint 'boulders'; in a 'scree' of (washed) weathered beach pebbles; in small slate chippings - and in the more traditional limestone and tufa settings.  Unless you have a desire to actually grow the plants within holes drilled in the lumps of chosen rock, then a good open compost with limestone grit and chippings will be totally adequate. These alternatives may not be as aesthetically pleasing perhaps, but tufa is so hard to find these days.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ranunculus on April 02, 2014, 10:58:06 AM
They are good at that in Dartmoor Prison, so I'm told. I have no direct experience of course ;D

Was it Wakefield you 'attended'?   :P
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on April 02, 2014, 11:01:43 AM
Limestone  rocks are not thick on the ground here and, as can be seen from pictures in Ian's Bulb Logs - e.g. Bulb Log 13 of this year - we are having great success growing saxes in troughs built up with broken building  blocks ( breeze blocks- lower density ones for preference).
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on April 02, 2014, 11:21:45 AM
Was it Wakefield you 'attended'?   :P

Strutted my stuff at Wakefield Mecca in my younger days. Only visited the other place when I worked at Wakefield Technical College and was served tea by a "Lifer" in for two counts of murder. I drank-up pretty quickly.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ChrisB on April 02, 2014, 11:48:28 AM
 I remember a visit to Hull many moons ago.  We had a Jobclub in there and were doing a press call.  It was some sort of 'milestone' event and we had a celebratory cake.  I got quite worried when a sharp ended knife was produced to cut it ;D...
Thanks for the tips folks.  I remember Ian donating a sink he'd created out of concrete chunks at the DW last year which was impressive.   We've got a few of those in the garden maybe I'll use those.  I notice any time I grow saxes near them they do quite well....
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Tim Ingram on April 02, 2014, 12:41:57 PM
Chris - this is a simple hypertufa-covered Butler sink my wife has planted up and we used some 'rocks' made up from left over hypertufa mix. I quite like the idea of doing this on a larger scale because it's easily drilled into and just as effective for growing plants as tufa itself. Some experimentation needed. Low density breezeblocks sound equally effective - will look up Ian's Bulb log - and it would be great to grow a lot more saxes. We have refrained so far from visiting Waterperry on the proviso that it might make us run before we can walk!
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Ian Y on April 02, 2014, 01:32:41 PM
Broken up breeze block has become my first choice rock for landscaping troughs etc.
It is environmentally sound as I am recycling old material that would go to landfill.
I am not depleting fragile natural areas of water worn limestone etc.
It is free from any building site - or very cheap if you do need to buy a few blocks.
The plants love it and will seed and grow into the porous surface - I have been using it for at least five years now.
Visitors have been unable to tell the difference between by side troughs with limestone and breeze blocks.

Pictures below first of a cement covered fish box trough landscaped with breeze block followed by a group of detailed pictures of the same or similar plantings.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ChrisB on April 02, 2014, 02:59:43 PM
They look lovely Ian.  I'm convinced.  Must start looking for skips at building sites I think...
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Tim Ingram on April 02, 2014, 10:42:09 PM
They do don't they - amazingly effective! Must have a go at this - lateral thinking at its very best!
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Matt T on April 08, 2014, 01:03:45 PM
Saxifraga 'Your Song' seems to flower over a prolonged period with me, no big flush of flowers all at the same time. It grows exposed to all the element can throw at it here but doesn't look too bad for all that.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on May 22, 2014, 06:20:33 PM
A few Saxes from the garden today:-

Saxifraga 'Winifred Bevington' a fairly common S. paniculata cross with S. umbrosa
Saxifraga cotyledon 'Pink Form'  at least that's what my label says but it doesn't look very pink to me? Sorry about the fuzzy close up.
From seed (AGS 08/9 4776) labeled as Saxifraga paniculata 'Archdale'. Originally sown February 2009 and second year of flowering. Chris Boulby I hope you see this as I think you posted a similar plant, maybe last year or year before, asking for an ID.

Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ChrisB on May 29, 2014, 04:04:23 PM
Hi Dave
Here is my mystery sax for your perusal, along with a pic of its foliage.  If the foliage also matches I think we've cracked it.  Let me know what you think.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ChrisB on May 29, 2014, 04:05:52 PM
And here's Southside Seedling and Tumbling Waters.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on May 29, 2014, 07:03:49 PM
Looks spot on to me Chris, that's another box you can tick.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ChrisB on May 29, 2014, 07:56:35 PM
Great I'm going to put the label in right now...
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: fixpix on June 09, 2014, 06:26:13 PM
I hope this qualifies ... Saxifraga stolonifera

Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Lesley Cox on June 10, 2014, 08:59:16 AM
We in New Zealand tend to look with bright green envy upon the perfect floral cushions of  saxifrages, on the UK show benches but honestly Ian, I think those plants scattered about your breeze block mountains are much more attractive. I'll be aiming for something like that if and when... ;)
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on June 10, 2014, 09:15:50 AM
Lesley - you must do no more than "think" about making breeze block mountains for several months at least - or else!

 You're right though, the Saxes look very much at home in this most unnatural of habitats (http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2014Jun041401876737BULB_LOG_2314.pdf)

 And some are setting seed !
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Lesley Cox on June 10, 2014, 09:44:33 AM
Setting seed! Oh yeah!!!

But you must let me THINK about such activities Maggi or I'll go totally stir crazy. And if I can think and plan now, I'll be ready to act when I'm allowed. As a matter of fact for the first week of my home help I felt quite guilty sitting reading while she did dishes, prepared meals and did the vacuum cleaning, never mind the washing, bathroom et al. But this week somehow it all seems quite normal and I think I could get used to a life of ease and general decadence quite easily. :-[ :P
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ebbie on June 29, 2014, 12:33:29 PM
The monocarpic Saxifraga candelabrum from Yunnan.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: adrian young on July 12, 2014, 06:26:51 PM
Hi Dave
Here is my mystery sax for your perusal, along with a pic of its foliage.  If the foliage also matches I think we've cracked it.  Let me know what you think.
This sax is S.Canis Dalmatica
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: adrian young on July 12, 2014, 06:30:20 PM
A great new Sax cultivar from David Walkey
S. Tysoe Sunset
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on July 12, 2014, 06:37:18 PM
Tysoe Sunset is lovely. Hope you are keeping well, Adrian?

Thanks for ID for the chumz !
 M
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ChrisB on July 19, 2014, 10:48:22 AM
Thanks for the ID Adrian.  How does it differ from paniculata Archdale?  Just curious...
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on July 19, 2014, 11:27:49 AM
Thanks for the ID Adrian.  How does it differ from paniculata Archdale?  Just curious...
 

Me too please.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: adrian young on July 19, 2014, 04:27:03 PM
 

Me too please.
I have nether seen Archdale, no nothing about it.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: David Nicholson on July 20, 2014, 06:38:52 PM
Chris, I've been doing a bit of research. First of all bear in mind that my plant was grown from AGS seed (08/09 4776) so can only be called ex Archdale and the cultivars Sunday name is Saxiraga paniculata 'Archdale' . The plant that Adrian identified as S. 'Canis Dalmatica' has a Sunday name of S x gaudinii 'Canis Dalmatica'. To me there looks to be little difference in the leaf shapes of paniculata and x gaudinii. Having said that I'm no expert. ;D
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ChrisB on July 20, 2014, 07:54:24 PM
Thanks Dave.  I think I'll label it S. aff. Canis Dalmatica to be on the safe side...  I was given mine by a friend and she had lost it's label....
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: adrian young on July 21, 2014, 04:05:06 PM
Chris, I've been doing a bit of research. First of all bear in mind that my plant was grown from AGS seed (08/09 4776) so can only be called ex Archdale and the cultivars Sunday name is Saxiraga paniculata 'Archdale' . The plant that Adrian identified as S. 'Canis Dalmatica' has a Sunday name of S x gaudinii 'Canis Dalmatica'. To me there looks to be little difference in the leaf shapes of paniculata and x gaudinii. Having said that I'm no expert. ;D
David, the plant Chris showed is quite different to paniculata, you can clearly see the influence of cotyledon in the rosettes
and of of course the intense red spotting on the petals.
Nobody knows if S.Canis Dalmatica is x gaudinii, it is best to call it S.'Canis Dalmatica'
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: adrian young on July 21, 2014, 04:13:10 PM
S.Canis Dalmatica is a very common Silver Sax, universally appreciated for
its ability to survive some adverse conditions.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ChrisB on July 21, 2014, 06:22:34 PM
Adrian, the picture you have just put up is exactly like mine, and I see what you mean about its possible relationship with S cotyledon.  I am grateful for your comments.  Thanks!
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Lesley Cox on July 22, 2014, 04:50:03 AM
Adrian, I think it was you who identified this saxifraga for me some years ago, as S. cotyledon var platyphylla. It came to me in 1973 as I remember, from a Czech gentleman, elderly at that time and from whom I never heard again. We had been swapping seed for a few years until then. I lost mine about 15 years ago and I've never seen it or read of it in any other place so I wonder if anyone else is growing it. I'd dearly love to get a little seed if that were possible. It was a superb potted plant but equally as good as here, on a raised bed, this one edged with limestone blocks.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: adrian young on July 22, 2014, 05:08:52 PM
Lesley, I wish I could help you, but I have been searching for this cultivar of
S.cotyledon ever since I saw your pics.
I have been to the Czech Rep. many times and can find no one that knows this plant.
Platyphllya simply means "wide leaves", most cotyledon have wide leaves.
So at the moment your cultivar appears to be lost, but I will keep searching.
I also have been trying to find cotyledon forma pyramidalis, I have seen this in the wild,
but it does not come true from seed.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Lesley Cox on July 23, 2014, 12:01:17 AM
Thanks for your comments Adrian. It's interesting that I always thought of mine as having pyramidal stems, so maybe it's not so far from your pyramidalis, especially as on those times when I got seed and seedlings, many were true but a few always were more spread out and open which is why I always propagated cuttings from the tight, very compact plants. The gentleman who sent me the original seed was called Antonin Cernovicky (with pronunciation marks) and at one stage I heard from an American source that he had been arrested by the Russians of the time (mid 70s) and not heard from again but whether this was accurate I don't know. The reason my American source gave was that he was known to have "too many contacts in the West."
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: peter hood on August 03, 2014, 08:27:45 PM
Some of you may be interested in this:Saxifraga moorcroftiana CC7377
Seed from Chris Chadwell sown December 2012.
Several plants have flowered over the last month - no more than two flowers on any plant.
 
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Lesley Cox on August 04, 2014, 11:37:19 AM
Gorgeous colour Peter but looks as if it would be quite a large (for a sax) plant, and loose. Is it an annual maybe?
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Lesley Cox on August 04, 2014, 11:40:42 AM
Oddly (re Reply 95) I have some seedlings from last a summer sowing that are almost identical with those above (just small yet but the foliage is the same.) But I don't know what they are. I've had nothing from any source as S. cotyledon and stupidly, I haven't put the source on the label. I don't see how they could be my lost treasure though.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: adrian young on August 04, 2014, 01:21:49 PM
Oddly (re Reply 95) I have some seedlings from last a summer sowing that are almost identical with those above (just small yet but the foliage is the same.) But I don't know what they are. I've had nothing from any source as S. cotyledon and stupidly, I haven't put the source on the label. I don't see how they could be my lost treasure though.
There are many forms of S.cotyledon in cultivation, it would indeed be a miracle if your seedlings
turned out to be Platyphllya, fingers crossed.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: peter hood on August 06, 2014, 01:58:10 PM
Gorgeous colour Peter but looks as if it would be quite a large (for a sax) plant, and loose. Is it an annual maybe?

Not an annual, Lesley; it does die back to ground level in the winter though, and it was something of a miracle when the plants reappeared this spring, a year after they first germinated. Now we have to pray for a greater miracle, if they are to reappear next spring. The stems are said (Malcolm McGregor) to be 18-52 cm. but this year the plants are still small - about 15cm.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Lesley Cox on August 07, 2014, 11:21:13 PM
Wow Peter, that's very tall for a saxifraga. Good luck with your miracle. :)
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: adrian young on August 29, 2014, 02:52:40 PM
Peter Nicholson - last year you showed a pic of S. cotyledon Pink form,
you said it was a seedling from S.Archdale. Your new hybrid has turned up in the
trade, although I am assuming it is the same thing.
S. cotyledon Pink form is an invalid name, so it would be useful if you could chose
a name of your liking and I could then register it for you.
If you need any help with the rules regarding naming cultivars, message me.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: adrian young on August 29, 2014, 03:24:30 PM
There is a commonly held view that sax mutata is monocarpic,
this is incorrect, in the wild you can find cushions of 10-20 rosettes very often,
and not all the rosettes flower together.
This view may have arisen because people tend to grow this species as an
Alpine plant in in a well drained mix, if you do that it will generally only produce
a single rosette. if you grow it in a water retentive mix it will grow several rosettes
and be perennial.
See Marijn van den Brinks pic, this is how it grow naturally.
The second pic shows what happens when you grow it as an Alpine.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on August 29, 2014, 06:26:33 PM
Peter Nicholson - last year you showed a pic of S. cotyledon Pink form,
you said it was a seedling from S.Archdale. Your new hybrid has turned up in the
trade, although I am assuming it is the same thing.
S. cotyledon Pink form is an invalid name, so it would be useful if you could chose
a name of your liking and I could then register it for you.
If you need any help with the rules regarding naming cultivars, message me.
   You mean David Nicholson, Adrian, not Peter. :)  His post was here on May 31st 2013  http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=9979.msg277942#msg277942 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=9979.msg277942#msg277942) last year - your second photo is the one from that post of course.
[attachimg=1]

David may be a little preoccupied at the moment, with a family wedding, so in case he's not around to answer you immediately I thought I'd better post a note.
I'd be surprised if the plant had gone into commerce via David - more likely to have been from wherever he got it from..... :-\

Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: adrian young on August 29, 2014, 10:18:27 PM
   You mean David Nicholson, Adrian, not Peter. :)  His post was here on May 31st 2013  http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=9979.msg277942#msg277942 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=9979.msg277942#msg277942) last year - your second photo is the one from that post of course.
(Attachment Link)

David may be a little preoccupied at the moment, with a family wedding, so in case he's not around to answer you immediately I thought I'd better post a note.
I'd be surprised if the plant had gone into commerce via David - more likely to have been from wherever he got it from..... :-\


Yes David, sorry, thanks Maggi
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: adrian young on August 30, 2014, 10:13:40 AM
Hoy posted a pic of S.caucasica some time back, I have just seen it,
unfortunately it is not that species.

http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=9979.msg278031#msg278031 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=9979.msg278031#msg278031)

This plant looks like a cultivar probably a x borisii

My pic show S.desoulavyi which has a small botanical difference from S.caucasica.
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Lesley Cox on September 08, 2014, 12:13:43 AM
Reposting this, from the Southern Hemisphere thread. It's new to me and of a fantastic colour, pure red with no hint of pink or purple. I'll be pollinating it with itself and again with another new one, shortly to open. :) No names please. The first is of the true foliage colour but the second, slightly revived on my relevant programme, is the TRUE colour, just stunning!
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: fermi de Sousa on September 08, 2014, 03:29:27 AM
Otto Fauser won the Blue ribbon for potted plants in the Rock garden Section at the Ferny Creek Hort Soc Spring Show on the weekend with this trough of Saxifraga poluniniana;
second pic - close up;
He had another round trough at home as well,

cheers
fermi
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: ChrisB on September 08, 2014, 09:24:51 AM
Very nice!   I love looking at these Southern Hemisphere exhibitions because it gives new hope as we head towards winter here... Any more delights coming Fermi?   She says hopefully...
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: fermi de Sousa on September 08, 2014, 01:24:14 PM
 ;D
Check out the Daffodil Thread, Chris!
- new ones this evening from Otto's garden,
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Otto Fauser on September 10, 2014, 07:28:45 AM
Lesley , I'm envious of your red 'Kabschia' Saxifraga . Yes , please do try to pollinate yours .

      Such a pity we are not allowed into the country some of those beautiful newer 'Allandale' etc  hybrids and those from the Czech Republic . But I was fo
rtunate to have raised from the SRGS Seed Exchange  Sax. poluniniana and S. georgei . here is a photo from today
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Hoy on November 10, 2014, 04:58:45 PM
Some interesting plants in this thread!
Not much to show from this very wet part of the world so here is one Saxifraga oppositifolia from last summer in its preferred habitat (although this is a bit too shady).
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Hoy on November 10, 2014, 08:49:17 PM
A few more species. Not the showiest ones but rather common mostly in moist places. But when you find them you can look for other plants of interest on drier ground.
Pictured last summer in situ.

Saxifraga nivalis
[attach=1]

Saxifraga cernua
[attach=2]

Saxifraga stellaris
[attach=3]

Saxifraga rivularis
[attach=4]
Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: André on November 11, 2014, 09:50:21 AM
A couple of pics from this summer; Saxifraga Aizoides growing on a natural drip-wall in Jämtland.

(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3861/14768445464_13c9a24472_s.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/ov39j5) (https://flic.kr/p/ov39j5)   (https://www.flickr.com/people/120792538@N03/)

(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2937/14770807455_c4a2fb38ca_s.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/ovffs4) (https://flic.kr/p/ovffs4)

Title: Re: Saxifraga 2014
Post by: Maggi Young on March 11, 2019, 10:05:31 PM
Saxifraga Cassini (aretioides x dinnikii)
a new cross from Karel Lang. G. Stopp offers 108 (!) different crosses
in his new list.

What an amazing colour! Karel Lang was selling plants at Jiri's garden last May but at the time I was more fascinated by the dwarf conifers being grown in so many Czech gardens. I now know that we should start growing a lot more saxifrages! (which I should have known anyway since David Hoare is a member of the Kent Groups). Where does that colour come from when aretioides is yellow and dinnikii purple-pink? The wonders of genetics!

Adrian Young - UK "Saxpert"   tells me today that 'Cassini' is   S. aretiodes  x S. columpoda
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