Authors:
Some authorities now make this a subspecies of S. cortusifolia but here it is retained as a separate species. Leaves glossy up to 8cm diameter, rounded and crenately lobed on 10cm long petioles, often becoming progressively tinted with bronze-red above, the undersides usually rich red throughout. Flowers numerous, pure white in graceful 40cm high panicles. Each flower has five, narrow, unspotted petals of which the bottom one, or sometimes two, are toothed and three or four times larger than their fellows, autumn. China, Japan, Korea among shaded mountain rocks. Three different varieties are recognised, occurring in different parts of its geographical range: S.f. var. crassifolia, shallowly lobed leaves; var. incisilobata, deeply lobed leaves; var. obtuso cuneata, has unlobed cuneate leaves. The cultivars 'Rubrifolia' and 'Wada' are valuable variants for their handsome red colour which suffuses their foliage throughout the season. There is also at least one with much smaller leaves, only 2-3cm in diameter and coppery coloured; this has been called 'Mt Nachi' though there is also a very similar, if not identical plant referred to as var. minima. 'Mt Nachi' is a neat, floriferous plant throwing up 15cm inflorescences and was collected on the mountain of that name. All need moist, lime-free soil rich in humus in a sheltered and partially shaded corner of the garden.
Plant Portrait: Saxifraga fortunei - plant of the month Nov 2017
