Fortune's Saxifrage

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Saxifraga fortunei (Latin Saxifraga fortunei) - graceful herbaceous plant; a representative of the genus Saxifrage of the Saxifrag family. He is a native of Japan. It grows wild in the southern part of Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, Korea and the Japanese islands of Hokaido, Shikoku and Honshu. It has been used in culture since 1956.

Characteristics of culture

Forchun's saxifrage is represented by small perennial plants that form a short rhizome. The leaves of the species under consideration are reniform-rounded, basal, rather large, lobed, cordate at the base, dentate along the edge, long-petiolate, collected in rosettes.

The flowers are small, up to 1 cm in diameter, irregular in shape, collected in paniculate inflorescences. Forchun's saxifrage blooms in mid-August - early August. The species is suitable for growing in damp and shady corners of rocky gardens.

Popular varieties:

* Maiko (Maiko) - an elegant variety, characterized by abundant flowering, will decorate the garden, made in any stylistic direction. It is represented by plants up to 20-25 cm in height with rounded, green, fleshy leaves, collected in a basal rosette, above which an inflorescence flaunts, consisting of almost airy, mother-of-pearl or mother-of-pearl pink, double flowers. Blooms in May - June.

* Mikawa Beni is an excellent and very effective variety, absolutely incomparable with others. It is represented by plants up to 25 cm high with green, rounded, fleshy leaves and inflorescences consisting of deep red small flowers. Flowering occurs in May - July. Quite demanding variety for growing conditions. Prefers well-moistened, humus, permeable soils and semi-shady location. Negatively refers to waterlogging, in such areas the root system rots badly, and the root rosette dies.

* Hi No Mai (Hi No Mai) - a great variety, striking in its attractiveness. It is represented by plants up to 15-20 cm high with green leaves and flowers of deep pink color, collected in dense paniculate inflorescences, outwardly looking like a beautiful lush cloud.

* Eiga (Eiga) - quite colorful and attractive variety. It is represented by plants with green foliage, collected in a basal rosette, above which inflorescences rise, consisting of miniature fuction flowers with a yellowish center. The variety will decorate any flower arrangement of low-growing plants.

Planting and leaving

Planting saxifrage is recommended in spring or autumn. Before planting, the soil is carefully dug up with a shovel or pitchfork, at the same time covering the rotted compost with a layer of at least 4-5 cm. Shallow pits are dug under the plants. Saxifrags are planted at a distance of 15-25 cm from each other. The soil of the planted plants is carefully tamped and watered abundantly. Closer to cold weather, saxifrage is covered with a layer of fallen dry leaves.

Saxifrage bushes should be divided in early spring. It is better to divide it manually into separate fragments, which are immediately planted in the prepared pits. Plants are divided 1 time in 4-5 years, but if the curtains became bald earlier and showed their bare middle, you can safely proceed to the procedure. Landing, by the way, must be carried out in a shady area.

On sunny sites, saxifrages do not get along, more precisely, they can be planted in areas under the open sun, but it is important to shade the plants at midday and water more often. Care also requires loosening and protection from weeds (until the saxifrage closes). Later, these procedures are excluded. After flowering, it is necessary to remove the peduncles so that the ripe fruits do not self-sow.