Spotted Saxifrage
Spotted saxifrage (Saxifraga bronchialis sp.) is a mat-forming perennial that grows up to about 12 cm in height.
- Found on high open rocky slopes.
- Mat-cushion forming habit.
- Basal leaves are leathery and overlapping. Spiny tips and hairy edges.
- Older leaves persist to protect the roots as part of the mat.
- Stems are narrow and hairy.
- Many flower emerge with whitish-cream petals with yellow, purple, orange, or red spots.
- Pointed hard capsules form after flowering.
- The leathery leaves have an evergreen quality which persists right up to snowfall.
- Similar types of bristly or prickly saxifrages found in the area includes evergreen saxifrage (S. aizodes), prickly saxifrage (S. tricuspidata), and yellow-dot saxifrage (S. cherleriodes sp.).
Spotted saxifrage is a favorite wildflower. We usually only spot it in the alpine zones in summer, sometimes near the summits of mountains we hike. If we wait too long to climb the mountains, frost can take out the blossoms, but if we hike in July and early August we can see the delicate small flowers of this hardy plant.