Chrysosplenium alternifolium

Alternate-leaved golden saxifrage, in Latin Chrysosplenium alternifolium, is a protected perennial plant that can still be found in some damp woods, ditches, or wet rocks, mainly in the mountains but also in the countryside. It is also known as the rock golden cress, due to its preference for damp rocky areas, as well as its small tufts of round leaves with golden highlights. Its light yellow spring flowers and leaves form a characteristic flat inflorescence of green and yellow. This very hardy golden saxifrage will be decorative at the edge of a stream, between large stones near a waterfall, or on the banks of a pond...

The alternate-leaved golden saxifrage belongs to the saxifrage family. It is widespread in Europe, especially central and northern Europe, in the Caucasus, in Siberia, and also in North America. This species is native to a large eastern half of France but absent in the south. It grows spontaneously on limestone and clay soils, often rocky and waterlogged.

It is a very hardy perennial plant with a creeping rhizome: equipped with a short rhizome close to the surface, it spreads quite rapidly over time as a creeping ground cover through its thread-like stolons. The rock cress has a low and dense vegetation that persists during winter. The alternate-leaved golden saxifrage does not exceed 15 cm (6in) in height. The plant produces triangular section stems that bear small round, pale green, shiny leaves with very wavy edges. The green-yellow upper leaves are smaller. Flowering occurs from March to June depending on the climate with bouquets of very small light yellow flowers at the tips of the stems, sitting on a collar of leaves.

Golden saxifrage is an original and bright evergreen ground cover in moist areas and shady places, trouble-free once established. A beautiful spring scene can be created by planting them with watercress, creeping bugleweed, Lychnis Jenny, pink astilbes, Mertensia virginica, and white or pink Physostegia virginiana, for example.