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Re: [SG] Now Sax

Gene Bush wrote:

> OK Jaime,
>         I noticed in the paragraph below the word Saxifraga. Would you please tell
> me which species/hybrids you are growing? What soil conditions and
> exposure? The only one I have had luck with is the 'Strawberry Begonia',
> actually a Sax which was once sold as a indoor pot plant. Everything else
> dies out on me. I have tried many of the Mossies and the Crusties all
> throughout the garden.
>         How about sharing, huh? huh? huh? Willya, huh?

Hmm.  I saw a similar comment the other day, Gene, and I must
confess I was surprised.  Considering the things you do grow
that I find far more difficult ... well, it's kinda reassuring
to know that everyone kills a plant or two once in a while.

The sax I use most frequently in gardens I do for others is
Saxifraga stolonifera, mainly because it is easy and carefree,
inexpensive and readily found.  Once it settles in, it just
goes.  For this baby, it gets very rich, humusy soil with very
little sun exposure preferring shade ranging from bright to
deep.  It likes to be moist, but will develop crown rot or
develop a fungal infection if too wet.  In short order, the
biggest problem with this little one is finding homes for the
babies.  Stolonifera is an appropriate name.  I tuck these into
small spaces in rock walls or similar spot where I know the soil
is deep and rich.

I grow a number of others myself.  They'll have to wait 'til I
return next week.

I think someone already said, Diana I believe, that they cannot
be treated the same.  Without a doubt.  I was first introduced
to Saxifraga in a botany class where we were studying
wildflowers native to the northeast.  I fell in hate with them
because identifying them was sooo difficult.  Plus they are
categorized into those &#$% sections and series all of which
needed to be memorized.  And there are hundreds of them.  They
were almost as bad as the composites.  It was only later that I
fell out of hate and in love with growing them.

There are so many types and each section (or even series) grow
in widely varying cultural conditions; from sun to shade, dry to
moist, scree to rich humus ... you name it, there is a sax to
fit (although lots aren't hardy above zone 5-ish).

Jaime
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