PLANT LIBRARY

Other Names:  Japanese Rockfoil

Description:

The perfect selection to brighten up shady borders and gardens; rich, shiny, sea-green foliage is tinged with bronze, with burgundy undersides; vivid sprays of pink flowers appear on short stems, above the foliage in late fall to early winter

Ornamental Features

Pink Elf Saxifrage has masses of beautiful spikes of pink frilly flowers rising above the foliage from mid fall to early winter, which are most effective when planted in groupings. Its attractive small glossy lobed leaves emerge light green in spring, turning bluish-green in color with curious burgundy undersides and tinges of coppery-bronze throughout the season. The crimson stems can be quite attractive.

Landscape Attributes

Pink Elf Saxifrage is an herbaceous perennial with a mounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Pink Elf Saxifrage is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Pink Elf Saxifrage will grow to be only 6 inches tall at maturity extending to 10 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 12 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 8 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in partial shade to shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone over the growing season to conserve soil moisture. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Pink Elf Saxifrage is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.