Overview

Saxifraga fortunei 'Windsor Form' is a herbaceous perennial in the genus Saxifraga, part of the Saxifragaceae family. It typically grows around 0.4 m tall. Saxifraga fortunei 'Windsor Form' grows best in partial shade and shade, and tolerates most soils. Its UK hardiness is rated H6. Suggested uses include shade garden, woodland garden and ground cover. It is native to China, Japan and Korea.

About

Saxifraga fortunei 'Windsor Form' is a shade-loving herbaceous perennial noted for its fleshy, rounded leaves and delicate starry flowers. It typically reaches about 0.4 m in height. The plant prefers partial shade to shade in moist but well-drained sandy, loamy or clay soils and does best in a sheltered position. Flowering runs from April to July.

Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Saxifraga fortunei

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. It is usually thought to indicate a medicinal use for treatment of urinary calculi, rather than breaking rocks apart.

Wikipedia contributors, "Saxifraga", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Saxifraga

In the garden

A member of the Saxifragaceae native to China, Japan and Korea, Saxifraga fortunei 'Windsor Form' forms a low mound of fleshy, rounded leaves with wiry flowering stems rising above the foliage in spring and early summer. The cultivar bears panicles of small, white star-shaped flowers from April to July; the two lower petals are characteristically longer than the others, which helps with identification when it is in bloom. Place it in partial shade or full shade where the soil stays moist but drains freely; it will tolerate sandy, loamy and clay soils provided they are not waterlogged. The plant is rated H6 for the UK, meaning it is very hardy in most British gardens and also suits USDA zones 6–9. A sheltered site reduces the risk of wind damage to the slender flower stalks and keeps the foliage looking its best. Use Saxifraga fortunei 'Windsor Form' in shaded borders, woodland settings or as a ground cover beneath deciduous trees and shrubs; its 0.4 m height makes it useful for filling the lower layer of a shady border. Note the April–July flowering window and the distinctive longer lower petals when assessing it in flower.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Saxifraga

Sunlight

partial shade, shade

Soil type

Sandy, Loamy, Clay

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained

Exposure

sheltered

UK hardiness

H6

Plant details

Saxifraga fortunei 'Windsor Form' size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

herbaceous perennial

Height

0.4 m

Suggested uses

shade garden, woodland garden, ground cover

Native to

China, Japan, Korea

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Saxifraga fortunei 'Windsor Form'

Cultivation

Prefers moist, well-drained soil in partial to full shade. Avoid direct hot sun. Mulch to retain moisture.

Pruning

Remove old flower stems and dead leaves after flowering to maintain appearance.

Propagation

Division in spring or autumn; seed propagation possible but less common.

Frequently asked questions

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