Saxifraga arendsii Wares Crimson

Saxifrage arendsii 'Ware's Crimson' is a variety of mossy saxifrage whose flowering offers a very pretty range of deep pink to white. The small but numerous flowers bloom on a persistent moss-like cushion in winter. It is a small perennial that works wonders in rockeries with light sun or partial shade, in well-drained soil that is not too dry in summer.

As its name suggests, Saxifraga arendsii belongs to the Saxifragaceae family. 'Ware's Crimson' is a horticultural selection from this plant. Its evergreen foliage, composed of rosettes of bright green, toothed leaves, earned it its common name of mossy saxifrage. Each rosette measures 2 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in diameter. The plant forms a cute little cushion, which slowly spreads by forming lateral rosettes 5cm (2in) high and 20cm (8in) wide. Between April and May, this little dome is covered with 6-petalled flowers, 1cm (0.4in) in diameter, which hides the vegetation for a few weeks. 

Preferring partially shaded and rather calcareous rockeries, 'Ware's Crimson' requires rich, humus-rich soil that is always slightly moist. It can creep into crevices or gaps in paving. It will not be comfortable in very dry soils or under scorching sun. When planted en masse, it can line the edge of a gravel path. It can also be grown in a pot, following the same conditions as in the ground: light, slightly moist and well-drained substrate. It can be easily associated with other perennials that require the same conditions, such as some ferns (Phyllitis scolopendrium, Cheilanthes lanosa), or with Alchemilla erythropoda, and of course with other varieties of mossy saxifrages such as 'Pixie' or 'Peter Pan'.