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Alpine Rockery

Saxifraga retusa (7)

retuse saxifrage

A dense, cushion-forming evergreen perennial to 5cm tall, with tiny green leaves and clusters or 2-five rich rose-red cup-shaped flowers with orange stamens that stand proud of the petals, in early spring

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Ultimate height

Up to 10cm

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Loam

Sand

Chalk

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Neutral, Alkaline

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or North–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Saxifragaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Saxifraga can be annuals, biennials, evergreen or herbaceous perennials, mostly mat-forming in habit, with simple or palmately lobed leaves and starry or rounded flowers which may be solitary of in panicles or cymes
Name status: Correct
Horticultural Group: Porphyrion section saxifrages are compact, cushion or mat-forming evergreen perennials with small, usually lime-encrusted leaves, and 5-petalled white, yellow or pink flowers in early summer
Plant range: Pyrenees

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in humus-rich, moist but very well-drained, alkaline or neutral soil in light shade. Ideal for an alpine house where there is protection from winter wet

Propagation

Propagate by detaching individual rosettes and rooting as cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Patio and container plants
Rock garden
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.