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Strawberry Geranium Saxifraga stolonifera

Phonetic Spelling
saks-IH-frag-ah stoh-lon-NIF-er-ra
Description

Strawberry Begonia, also called "Mother of Thousands" because of its prolific spread by red strawberry-like runners, is an evergreen stoloniferous flowering perennial with heart-shaped green leaves with distinctive white veins above and attractive red beneath. The plant forms a spreading, low mat propagated by the division of plantlets from thread-like runners. Strawberry Begonia is a native of Eastern Asia, Western China, and Japan and is often found on shady cliffs and mossy rocks at low altitudes. The plant's spread and ornamental value as well as it's tolerance for heavy clay soil make it a good candidate for use as a ground cover. The genus name comes from the Latin words saxum meaning rock and frangere meaning to break in reference to the plant growing in the fissures of rocks and, over time, breaking away the rock. The species name means "having stolons".

Strawberry Begonia grows best in moist, organically rich, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. However, it does tolerate heavy clay soils. If grown outdoors, it should be in a shady area. If grown indoors, plants should be sited in bright indirect light, although some direct sun (if not intense) will promote reddish leaf colors. The plant is easily propagated by rooting plantlets directly in soil. It is cold hardy in USDA Zones 6 through 9; however, you should site it in a protected location and provide plenty winter mulch if growing in Zone 6.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

No known diseases or insect pests.

See this plant in the following landscapes:
Shaded Slope Paths & Walkways
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Maroon Beauty'
  • 'Tricolor'
'Maroon Beauty', 'Tricolor'
Tags:
#evergreen#ncemgva2018#spreading#herbaceous perennial#attractive leaves#groundcover#mat forming#flowering
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Maroon Beauty'
  • 'Tricolor'
'Maroon Beauty', 'Tricolor'
Tags:
#evergreen#ncemgva2018#spreading#herbaceous perennial#attractive leaves#groundcover#mat forming#flowering
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Saxifraga
    Species:
    stolonifera
    Family:
    Saxifragaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Central and Southern China, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan
    Distribution:
    Naturalized to temperate regions of Europe and North America.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Rounded
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Irregular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    One inch wispy flowers with five petals blossom in late Spring to early Summer. Flower stems rise to 18 inches high bearing loose, airy panicles of asymmetrical white flowers, each flower having two large lower petals and 3-4 smaller upper petals.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Colorful, 2 to 4 inch, round to heart-shaped gray-green leaves with silvery gray veins on 8 inch stalks. It has sparse hair. The underside is purplish-maroon. Plants spread somewhat rapidly by thin, thread-like stolons to 24 inches wide.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants
    Rock Wall
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Asian Garden
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Compaction
    Drought