Purple Mountain Saxifrage
Saxifraga oppositifolia
- Native to:
- Albania, Aleutian Is., Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czechia-Slovakia, Finland, Føroyar, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Labrador, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Svalbard, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, United States
Robert Flogaus-Faust
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Saxifragaceae
- Genus:
- Saxifraga
- Species:
- Saxifraga oppositifolia
- USDA Symbol:
- SAOP
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 5 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, purple, magenta
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Arctic woolly bear moth (Gynaephora groenlandica), Ross's tussock moth (Gynaephora rossii), Franklin's blue (Agriades franklinii)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in alpine and arctic regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination; surface sow and provide cold stratification. Germination can be erratic.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: None required
Establishment: The protocol does not provide specific information on propagation source, pre-treatment, establishment protocol, temperature, germination rate, or germination time for Alopecurus alpinus.
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. Use repeated cycles of 20°C, then 4°C for 3 months each. Germination is very prolonged. Germination is improved by using GA3. * keep all seed pots x 2 years