Nodding Saxifrage
Saxifraga cernua
- Native to:
- Austria, Canada, China, Czechia-Slovakia, Finland, France, Greenland, Iceland, India, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Korea, Labrador, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Svalbard, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, United States
Anton Hartinger
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Saxifragaceae
- Genus:
- Saxifraga
- Species:
- Saxifraga cernua
- USDA Symbol:
- SACE2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 30 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- white
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- thrives in alpine and arctic conditions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination. Bulbils produced in leaf axils provide primary means of reproduction.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: None required
Establishment: S. cernua is a circumpolar species found from Alaska to Newfoundland and south through the Rocky Mountains to New Mexico. It ranges to Washington in the Cascades and is also found in Idaho and Nevada.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow immediately, Either the viability of these seeds is short or the species propagates best with fresh seed. Stored seed might be coaxed into germination with temperature cycling and patience. Expose to fluctuation outdoor winter temperatures including freezing for 3 months. Gradually increase light and temperature in the spring. * keep all seed pots x 2 years