SAXIFRAGA. Widespread in the Americas, Europe, Asia and North Africa. An enormous group of perennials, many of them quite showy. They are generally beloved by rock-gardeners and dismissed as too difficult by others. We are still building—by slow degrees—a collection of more easily grown species. Most have neat rosettes of leaves, clumping to form compact clumps or mats. The 5-petalled, somewhat rose-like blossoms are usually small and displayed on branched stems above the foliage, mainly in spring. Most appreciate sun or light shade near the coast, part shade inland (though this generally means fewer flowers), well drained soil, and moderate watering. Those listed should be hardy to 0^oF or below.

cotyledon hybrid. This selection might almost be mistaken for one of the sempervivums when not in bloom. It has grey green rosettes 4" or more across. The individual leaves are broadly strap shaped and have somewhat scalloped margins lined with small dots of lime. Flower stems rise 1-2' from the older rosettes in spring, displaying white blossoms with dark centers in open sprays.

decipiens and its hybrids. This is a large and variable group. Its common features include tightly packed rosettes and bright green, lobed or dissected leaves. The hybrid ‘Carnival’ has 1½" rosettes and makes a spectacular show, with 1" rose pink blossoms on 3-6" stems. ‘Peter Pan’ has smaller, more crowded rosettes and smaller white blossoms opening from pink buds just above the foliage. In the variety sternbergii, the rosettes are 2½" or more across, with narrowly dissected, darker green leaves. Its pure white blossoms are carried in large sprays up to 10" above the foliage. ‘Variegata’, received from friend Wayne Roderick, is as compact and small leaved as ‘Peter Pan’ but has the leaves broadly and irregularly variegated with creamy white. The flowers are light pink, opening from darker buds. A sporting, green-leaved shoot on this selection produced a dramatically different plant, which we have dubbed ‘Dazzler’. The plant is of about the overall size and leaf size of ‘Carnival’, the leaves bright green and shiny. The flowers are exceptionally large and verging on red in color.

umbrosa. London pride. This species forms broad carpets, with rosettes of broad 2-3", scallop-edged leaves, colored a lustrous green. It bears large, lacy sprays of white to pale pink blossoms on reddish stems. The variety primuloides is a miniature form, with 1½", closely packed rosettes. It is a pretty little foliage plant, though it has never bloomed for us. Both prefer shade and combine beautifully with ferns and violets.