Saxifrage cortusoides

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Author Message   Tony_willis  Posted on Saturday, November 03, 2007 - 12:02 pm EST :    This one is clearly related to fortunei,in fact there is a form of it called rubrifolia which I find difficult to tell apart. This one has nice foliage with good markings on it. closeup of a leaf Tony_willis - Lancashire, Zone "7"   Gardenfiend  Supporting Member My Weather My Garden Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2007 - 08:09 am EST :    The foliage is lovely. That seems to be the distinguishing characteristic. I am confused about the correct nomenclature anyway. Can you make any sense of it? Peters, here in Germany, who offers one of the largest selections of saxifraga fortunei in Europe, persists in calling them cortusifolia var. fortunei. Among these is a cultivar rubrifolia, which I also grow. It is robust and differs from the species only in the colour of the leaves as far as I can tell (I prefer it to the species, actually). Is this the same rubrifolia you are referring to? Gardenfiend - Germany, Zone "7a"   Tony_willis  Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2007 - 09:36 am EST :    Mara you are right in that the only difference seems to be the foliage and that is only a colour difference.I do not grow rubrifolia and have only seen it on the web but it appears to look just like a fortuneiOur plant was a one of purchase and I cannot remeber where it came from.It has been in the garden for several years and I have never seen it for sale again in this form Tony_willis - Lancashire, Zone "7"   Mike_in_chicago  Supporting Member My Garden Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2007 - 03:43 pm EST :    I've coveted these for years, but will just have to enjoy the pictures of others. Thanks. Mike_in_chicago - Chicago, IL, Zone "5b"   Gardenfiend  Supporting Member My Weather My Garden Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2007 - 05:23 pm EST :    Why, Mike? Gardenfiend - Germany, Zone "7a"   Mike_in_chicago  Supporting Member My Garden Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2007 - 05:59 pm EST :    I don't believe these are hardy in U.S. z5, though I'd be happy to be led to believe otherwise. A number of saxifrages do fine here, but I think the majority require a gentler winter. At least that's the overall impression I've gotten looking over the alpine plant catalogs. Of the many I've tried, only S. “Green Lace” and S. anglica 'Valerie Keevil' have come through more than a winter or two. Mike_in_chicago - Chicago, IL, Zone "5b"   Zephirine  Posted on Monday, November 05, 2007 - 12:11 am EST :    What a lovely foliage, Tony! Yes, the "cortusoides", "cortusifolia" and "fortunei" mixture is very confusing for me too. Yours definitely looks like a beautifully marked fortunei to me... Maybe of the same line as 'Ruby Wedding'? They might have common ancestors, don't you think? The markings have a family look... Zephirine France zone 8   Gardenfiend  Supporting Member My Weather My Garden Posted on Monday, November 05, 2007 - 03:44 am EST :    Mike, I think it would be worth a try. I think if you can keep the crown dry and avoid rot (while providing moisture to the roots - not an easy combination) they might well be perfectly hardy. Winter hardiness hasn't been a problem here - but summer wet was. The only other question would be first and last frosts. The leaves can be damaged by a late spring frost (or so I have read - they never have here) and the flowers will be badly hurt by the first frost in autumn. Since some don't flower until October and even November, that really is a limiting factor. Gardenfiend - Germany, Zone "7a"   Tony_willis  Posted on Monday, November 05, 2007 - 06:10 am EST :    Zephirine I think they are probably all mixed up and yours certainly has similar markings and is very nice and distinctive. What we like about ours is it is quite lacking in the shine seen on other fortunei leaves which enables its pale grey to show through.On my closeup the main leaf is dry but the other leaves which are wet have a definite red cast. Mike I agree with Mara that the main problem is they bloom so late that an early frost ruins the flowers.The plants themselves seem hardy here although we have nothing like as hard a winter as you. Tony_willis - Lancashire, Zone "7"   Mike_in_chicago  Supporting Member My Garden Posted on Monday, November 05, 2007 - 07:04 am EST :    Well, something did die in the rock garden this year, opening up a spot. I've been more worried about our humid summers for these. I can lose certain alpine plants during August when there are no significant rains but plenty of humidity. More pictures, please! Mike_in_chicago - Chicago, IL, Zone "5b"   Gardenfiend  Supporting Member My Weather My Garden Posted on Monday, November 05, 2007 - 08:08 am EST :    Malgorzata's summers are very humid too. Maybe she can offer some advice. Gardenfiend - Germany, Zone "7a"   Malgorzata  Supporting Member My Garden Posted on Tuesday, November 06, 2007 - 08:02 am EST :    Malgorzata's summers are very humid too. Maybe she can offer some advice. Well, I don't grow "Saxifrage cortusoides" so can't speak on this one. To protect my Saxifraga fortunei from humidity and heat I haunt for the shade in summer. Never direct sunlight. I also do not use humus in soil mix. Can't explain it scientifically but humus seems to "help" plants to rot in high temperatures and humidity. I use Akadama and Kanuma soils as a soil mix base. It means very good drainage. If I plant in the garden I amend the soil and mount my plants so the crown is not wet. I water my pots (all of plants) twice daily in August but not in the midday. Twice a day for saxifraga f. in September was too much water and suddenly drier side seemed to work better for my plants. But that is only my experience. No significant frost here. PS: For leaf color...if I had a bigger garden ...I would definitely go after... Heucheras! There are dozens to choose from those beauties now in the nurseries. I am drooling over them! Sorry..not on the subject. Malgorzata - Fukuoka-Kyushu, Zone "8/9"

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