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Saxifraga stolonifera - Meeburgh.

Common Name Strawberry Saxifrage, Creeping Saxifrage, Strawberry Geranium, Strawberry Begonia
Family Saxifragaceae
USDA hardiness 6-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Shady cliffs and mossy rocks at low altitudes[187]. Occasionally naturalized on walls in C. and S. Europe[50].
Range E. Asia - W. China, Japan. Naturalized in C. and S. Europe[50].
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade
Saxifraga stolonifera Strawberry Saxifrage, Creeping Saxifrage, Strawberry Geranium, Strawberry Begonia


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Selso
Saxifraga stolonifera Strawberry Saxifrage, Creeping Saxifrage, Strawberry Geranium, Strawberry Begonia
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: White. Main Bloom Time: Late summer. Form: Rounded.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Saxifraga stolonifera is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.3 m (1ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from July to August.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

S. sarmentosa.

Habitats

 Ground Cover; Cultivated Beds; East Wall. In. South Wall. In. West Wall. In.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Stem
Edible Uses:

Leaves - raw or cooked[105, 177]. Relished in Japan when parboiled or fried and used in salads[183]. Flowering stem - said to be tasty when salted[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antibacterial  Antiphlogistic  Depurative  Febrifuge

Antibacterial, antiphlogistic[174]. There are growth-promoting substances in the leaves[174]. The whole plant is depurative, febrifuge and suppurative[147, 218]. Its use promotes the drainage of pus[147]. A decoction is used in the treatment of boils and abscesses, poisonous snakebites, otitis media, acute attacks of convulsions and haematemesis[147]. The leaf juice is applied to aching ears, abscesses and inflammations[218].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Can be grown as a ground cover plant in a shady position[188]. Plants should be spaced about 45cm apart each way[208].

Special Uses

Food Forest  Ground cover

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Alpine garden, Container, Ground cover, Massing, Rock garden, Woodland garden. Prefers a cool position in a moist humus-rich soil[1]. Prefers an acid soil[200]. Thrives on heavy soils in the milder areas of the country[208]. Usually thrives in a poor soil with a northerly aspect[1]. Grows well in light woodland[200] or in a shady position in a rock garden. The plant is hardy to about -10°c[187]. The leaves and the flowers, however, are liable to be damaged by autumn frosts[200]. A very ornamental plant[1], it is sometimes grown as a house plant[200]. A polymorphic species[1], it is closely related to S. cortusifolia, differing in having runners[200]. Special Features:Attractive foliage, Not North American native, Naturalizing, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 9 through 5. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. An evergreen. A clumping mat former. Forming a dense prostrate carpet spreading indefinitely [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

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Propagation

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a cold frame in the spring. Surface sow, or only just cover the seed, and make sure that the compost does not dry out. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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12

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

Meeburgh.

Botanical References

58200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Tim Williams   Thu Feb 26 2009

This plant is most easily propagated by runners, much like spider plants and strawberries.

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