Saxifraga longifoliaMany non gardener may think that the winter garden offer up fiddling in the way of pastime or show . But many plants offer yr - round pastime , and walk to the greenhouse today , I notice how jolly my many trough of Saxifrages wait in the winter , with their calcium hydrate encrusted foliage , and their silvery leave that are as hard as rock-and-roll . I am astonied at how stalwart these high mountain plants are , and each and every year , as I add and collect more , their diversity and dish stops me , and I am cue of why I love strange plants so much . You are unlikely to obtain saxifrage at your local garden core , or at a big hardware store garden workshop . But you may find them online at a few alpine plant nurseries . breakstone are deserving searching out , for these are one of those thing like the fine cooking utensil is to a Captain Cook , or a fine imported tool , that get ’s better with age . Saxifrages seem to say ” Hey , you are a serious gardener , and you doubtless know what you are doing ” . Well , if you are like me , you may wish things that ‘ say ’ that .
Not all Saxifrages are alpine plants , for some are downright huge , and tropic . But it is the alpine species that are so collectable and cherished by rock gardeners , and alpine plant enthusiasts . Saxifrages that are alpines are tiny , lime crusty plants , and often for dense , hard cumulus that alpine gardener lovingly call buns . The dense tooshie are tough , and smashed , they right smart we like buns . In the natural state , they cling to rocks and cliffs on the high peaks above the cloud , in in the mist , but they are sturdy and strong , in fact , they are plan for Charles Percy Snow and rough , misty conditions , but , conditions that are precise . T
So why do n’t you see them everywhere ? Well , the reason you do n’t see them that first , they are considered challenging to grow , and , they are not fit to mass productions for retail garden center . Plus , they bloom in the former winter , or very early spring . When you see a trendy bowl garden workshop on TV or on a make over show , what the host reccomends planting is often hens and chicks , sempervivums , and sedum ’s . These are incredibly foolproof we all know , but just something you may show off or impress with . I care semps , but sempervivums are best left to the casual gardener , for although pretty , they are rather unexciting , and boring , a toddler can grow them .
Saxifrages need an informed mind , and an experienced alpinist to master . ( They do n’t , but everyone still call back so , even have rock gardeners ( take on ) Or , so , they did , for today , I feel most anyone can ‘ surmount ’ grow this once unmanageable and cross alpines , but do n’t portion out my secret with too many people ! Just quietly order some , and mint up a till , and leave it alone . Then , sit back and watch the most experiences horticultural snob ’s eye ’s come out out when they see your trough of these precious , high alpines , all dense and bun like , and you’re able to exclaim … .”oh those ? , They ’re so soft , I really do n’t pay much tending to them ” . And , here ’s how …
Here is my enceinte enigma – although they are notoriously fussy ( I do n’t think so , though ) , they are comfortable if purchased from one retailer onlineHarvey Wrightman , for he not only has a premiere collection from the fine sources in Eastern Europe where the proficient come from ( the Czech ’s are unhinged about Sax ’s ) , Check out theirRock Gardensite if you want to see some unbelievable Sax ’s . But the intellect you must get your plants from Harvey is because he grow his Saxifrages in block of Tufa rock candy , which form them improbably fool proof .
count , you may still kill them , but think about this : I lost hundreds of Saxifrages until I buy Harvey ’s rock grown plants . I have lost none in over 4 years , and although costly , they have grown into large , if not huge , specimen in my trough . And … .. I seldom do anything to them . They get bamboozle on , rained on , full sun , and rarely watered , they are expose to all of our New England element . So , if you ’ve ever want a winter garden , or a container that looked as good on the New Year , as it does in March , and in August , then consider planting a manger of Saxifrages , and possibly next year , you too can have a container of stars on your patio or deck .
The only thing they dislike is wintertime wet , and summer humidity . Many of these Saxifrages put up pretty flowers too soon in the class , perhaps late February or March here in New England , and often are the first sign of spring in our garden , long before the crocus and spring bulb even opine of come out . Easy to grow in Hyper - tufa troughs , the sort Martha Stewart has shown being made out of concrete and peat , or grow in a frost trial impression stoneware container , Saxifrages are fun to pull together , for there are countless hybrids and species .
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