Because of its late flowering period, which falls in October, the autumn saxifrage is also affectionately known as “Oktoberle”. The graceful flowers of this plant, originally native to China, appear well into December and are ideal for difficult places in the garden.
How do I properly care for an autumn saxifrage?
In order to successfully plant and care for the autumn saxifrage, it should be planted in partially shaded to shady locations with permeable, humus-rich soil. Water the plant evenly and fertilize with organic rhododendron fertilizer in April. After flowering, cut off capsule fruits and leave the leaves as protection in winter.
Features
- The autumn saxifrage grows in a dense clump and reaches a height of up to thirty centimeters.
- The leaves, arranged in rosettes, are rounded, heart-shaped and seven-lobed.
- The color spectrum of the foliage ranges from green and red to dark brown.
- The flowers growing in loose panicles will appear in mid-September at the earliest, when the days are noticeably shorter.
- They grow on leafless stems about thirty centimeters long.
- The flower itself has five petals, one of which is characteristically significantly longer than the others.
Location
The autumn saxifrage prefers semi-shady to shady places with high humidity. Therefore, place the Oktoberle in the light shade of deciduous trees or bushes. A location in front of a north-facing house wall is also ideal.
Substrate
The soil should be well-drained and rich in humus and nutrients. Pay attention to the water storage capacity of the substrate, as the autumn saxifrage needs consistent soil moisture.
Planting
Place the Octoberle preferably in spring, because this gives the perennial the opportunity to take root well and you can enjoy the pretty flowers in the first autumn. For good growth, the planting distance should not be less than thirty centimeters.
Watering and fertilizing
Always water the Octoberle thoroughly but only when the top centimeters of soil feel dry. This encourages the roots to penetrate into deeper soil layers. This means the plant survives dry summer periods better.
Fertilized in April with some organic rhododendron fertilizer. Compost is unsuitable because it usually contains too much lime.
Care
After flowering, the autumn saxifrage produces numerous inconspicuous capsule fruits. You should snap these off as soon as possible. You can leave the leaves on the plant during the winter months as they serve as natural winter protection. Carefully clean out the Octoberle as soon as the first new growth appears. An additional, warming blanket made of leaves or pine branches is only necessary in very rough locations.
Tip
In spring you can propagate the autumn saxifrage yourself by digging up the daughter rosettes and reinserting them elsewhere. Breeding from the ripe seeds and self-sowing are also possible without any problems.
