Saxifraga fortunei

[Diane Whitehead]

I did a search and found only two mentions of Saxifraga fortunei since 2008.

If it flowered at the same time as the exquisite tinies of spring, I would understand
that fortunei would be ignored, but it is wonderful to have frothy white flowers to
accompany autumn gentians.

I saw photos of new European varieties a couple of years ago, but as they were not
available here in Canada, I was given seed by Russ Graham, a generous Oregon
nurseryman.

The plants were very slow growing, but by this year were almost cabbagy - and the
deer thought so too, so I won't show photos of the leaves, which varied in colour, surface
texture and shape.  Most of the plants are flowering now, though some still have tight buds,
so the flowering should last into November, and should be uneaten because I now have
a hoop of chicken wire over them.

The variation in flowers is interesting.  They are almost all white, but some have orange
stamens or yellow ovaries. A couple are pink.  Some have excessively long petals, and
notching varies too.  Some have chunky inflorescences, others have widely spaced
flowers, and one is very floriferous.

[David Stephens]

Not much use to you Diane, but there is currently a trial of Saxifraga fortunei at the Royal Horticultural Society garden at Wisley, I was there yesterday judging. As you say, great variation in leaf and flower form.

[Claire Cockcroft]

Several years ago, I was lucky to purchase a bulb pot that was donated to our NARGS chapter plant sale by the late Steve Doonan.  The bulbs are long since gone, but a seedling S. fortunei came up in the pot from Steve's garden.  The leaves are a very dark red, the flowers white.  I have tried to grow it in the garden but weevils love it and the mole runs under the plant to clean out the weevil larvae.  I've finally given up and put it in a pot.

[David Nicholson]

They really are beautiful plants and put on a wonderful show.

[shelagh]

We have several different ones in the garden and they are just coming into flower, a wonderful spot of colour in the garden at this time of year.  Wouldn't be without them.

[Tim Ingram]

A bit late Diane but this is a small form we inherited in a trough, along with autumn gentians. In the garden we have not had much luck with this plant because of summer dryness but I would certainly agree with Shelagh, it must be one of the best late flowering 'alpines' around and there are some wonderful dwarf forms.

[WimB]

Actually I love this species and the different cultivars are getting easier to find/buy over here now...there are so many superb forms...

To see some pictures of them growing here in the low countries:

http://www.vrvforum.be/forum/index.php?topic=612.msg32825#msg32825
http://www.vrvforum.be/forum/index.php?topic=612.msg33175#msg33175
http://www.vrvforum.be/forum/index.php?topic=612.msg33634#msg33634
http://www.vrvforum.be/forum/index.php?topic=612.msg33634#msg33634
and http://www.vrvforum.be/forum/index.php?topic=612.msg33761#msg33761

[Diane Whitehead]

Black Ruby is wonderful - such intensity of colour,  in leaves and flower.