About the genus

Saxifraga is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 473 species of holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages or rockfoils. The Latin word saxifraga means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin saxum + frangere.

In the garden

Megasea belongs to the Saxifragaceae family. Within this family, many species grow as small herbaceous perennials that keep their foliage close to the ground in a rosette and send flowering stems up clear of the leaves. Floral structure commonly includes five petals and five sepals, and flowers are presented on unbranched stalks above the foliage. The family has a long history of being called saxifrages or rockfoils; the Latin root literally refers to stone-breaking and reflects an association with rocky, shallow-soil habitats. Grow Megasea in a sharply drained situation where water will not sit around the roots: many saxifrage-type plants have leaves that reduce evaporation, a trait suited to lean, well-drained mixes and crevices. A position with some shelter from driving winter wet is sensible to prevent crown rot. In cultivation, plants suit rock gardens, crevice plantings, alpine troughs or the front of a sunny or partially shaded border where the low rosette habit can be seen. Expect the small, often pale five-petalled flowers to be shown above the rosette on narrow stalks; that contrast between compact foliage and upright flower stems is a consistent feature to look for when selecting plants for gravel or stone settings.

From the Fenn Plants journal

• Notes on DaffodilsWhen to plant daffodil bulbs in the UK, how deep, how to naturalise them in grass, why daffodils stop flowering (“blindness”), and why you should never mix cut daffodils with other flowers.
• Keeping Your NerveHow to garden through a heatwave — the best time to water, why deep soaks beat daily sprinkles, caring for pots and vulnerable plants, and why you can let the lawn go brown.
• Made to LastHow to clean, store and protect garden pots and planters — the frost-proof vs frost-resistant difference, winter care for terracotta and ceramic, and how to reuse a broken pot.