Saxifraga stolonifera Cuscutiformis

Saxifraga stolonifera 'Cuscutiformis' is a very hardy saxifrage, but still little known and planted, despite the enthusiasm it generates among gardeners who have adopted it. This perennial from Asia has beautifully coloured evergreen foliage in olive-green and brown, sometimes marbled with silver. In summer, it is adorned with white flowers speckled with red in a vaporous mist. It thrives in light woodland or partial shade. It spreads using stolons, similar to strawberries. It is an excellent ground cover under bushes or at the base of walls exposed to the east and north

Saxifraga stolonifera 'Cuscutiformis' is a rather rare form of creeping saxifrage, a Chinese perennial known as 'spider saxifrage', 'Jewish beard', or 'old man's beard'. It is native to China, where it is found in wooded areas, among stones and tree roots. While it thrives in thick and moist humus, this saxifrage tolerates less ideal conditions, such as dry limestone soil in summer, according to some successful gardeners who have adopted it. 'Cuscutiformis', hardier than others, has received the Award of Garden Merit from the RHS in England.

This cultivar forms a 30cm (12in) tall ground cover when in bloom. The plant forms a creeping stump and produces blood-red stolons with seedlings at their tips, allowing it to colonise the ground and spread easily. Each seedling is composed of rosette-shaped leaves that persist throughout winter. Generally rounded, 4 to 5cm (2in) wide, and dentate on the edges, these leaves are hairy and thick. They are highly decorative with their various shades of olive-green, brown, and wine red with fuchsia pink undersides, on which broad veins of light green to silver-grey are drawn. In early summer, it bears graceful and slender purple flower spikes with small asymmetrical flowers with 3 upright petals surmounting 2 large drop-shaped white flowers speckled with purple.

Easy to grow, Saxifraga stolonifera 'Cuscutiformis' thrives in shade or partial shade, preferably in moist but well-draining, acidic to limestone soil. These conditions are found in a moist rockery, between rocks, or at the edge of woodland. Plant it with hostas, liriopes, ophiopogons, heucheras, tiarellas, or Japanese forest grass, which enjoy similar environments. It also grows very well in pots, to adorn patios and balconies.