Saxifraga 2010

[WimB]

Here are some saxifraga's flowering today in my garden:

Saxifraga 'Golem'
Saxifraga oppositifolia 'Le Bourg d'Oisans'

[Ragged Robin]

Wim, so lovely to see you Saxifraga flowering - nothing flowering yet here!

[WimB]

Thanks Robin,

it's really strange that they are flowering already. I posted pics of them last year on the 6th of March. Our winter this year has been twice as hard as the winter before that and they are flowering on the same time.

[Lesley Cox]

I have my birthday on the same day each year, regardless of the weather. Christmas too. Strange.

[WimB]

I have my birthday on the same day each year, regardless of the weather. Christmas too. Strange.

  I take it you don't grow outside Lesley. Neither does Christmas, although the trees do.  Anyhow, the plants get one year older on the same day also, that doesn't mean their fertile period should be at the same time every year, does it? I expected them to flower later if it's still cold. Not a lot of bees around either, so, if I were the plant I would wait a bit longer...

[Lesley Cox]

Sorry Wim, just being my usual silly self.

[David Sellars]

wimB:

Your Saxifraga oppositifolia 'Le Bourg d'Oisans' is a very fine form.  I have not seen it before.  Are the flowers double or is that a trick of the photography? 

[WimB]

Sorry Wim, just being my usual silly self.

I know...  

[WimB]

wimB:

Your Saxifraga oppositifolia 'Le Bourg d'Oisans' is a very fine form.  I have not seen it before.  Are the flowers double or is that a trick of the photography? 

Thanks David, The flowers aren't double here's the picture from last year: http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3145.msg79159#msg79159.
This is what Ger van den Beuken wrote about it on the forum:

This is the correct name:
Saxifraga oppositifolia 'Le Bourg d'Oisans'
Actually it's an introduction of Kees Jan van Zwienen and brought into cultivation by myself.
In my opinion the most easy and free flowering oppositifolia, probably due to the very low location of 1200 meter in the Ecrins in France where it is found.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I'll have to give it a try on occasion. 
Other forms of S. oppositifolia have not been very happy here... I guess occasionally too hot and/or dry in summer.  Ger's theory about it's origine might be the correct explanation.. 

[David Sellars]

Luc:

I have found that many forms of Saxifraga oppositifolia grow well and are very floriferous given the following conditions:

-Shaded by rocks.
-Plenty of light but not direct sunlight.
-Well drained sandy soil with some humus.

These conditions are most easily achieved on a steep rocky slope with a northern exposure.  At this time of year they get no direct sunlight at all and in June they might get a little sun for an hour or so.

[David Sellars]

Here's a couple of pictures of some of our Saxifraga oppositifolia growing on a north facing cliff.

[ranunculus]

Super images of very healthy plants, David.

[Ragged Robin]

Fabulous - and thanks David for the advice, I'm hoping to try growing Saxifraga oppositifolia in my rockery.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Thanks for the advice David !!  Yours look lovely and happy at the same time !
Will have to give it another try !