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Clagett, Marjorie

Saxifraga oppositifolia

Saxifraga oppositifolia L.

Purple Mountain Saxifrage

Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: SAOP

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), GL (N)

A low, matted, showy saxifrage, not more than 2 in. high. The tightly packed stems are dense with overlapping, opposite leaves. The slim, pointed foliage is fringed on the margins with stiff, rigid hairs as are the margins of the five blunt lobes of the flowers. The attractively crimped, magenta or purple petals are accented by the brownish orange anthers. A dense, little cushion plant with oval leaves, often tinged with maroon, and bright reddish-lavender flowers.

The richly colored flowers are unusual in this genus, which commonly has white ones. The plant resembles Moss Pink (Silene acaulis), which is distinguished from it by 3 styles and generally a notch in the end of the slender petals.

From the Image Gallery

2 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 2 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AK , ID , MT , NY , OR , VT , WA , WY
Canada: AB , BC , MB , NL , NS , NT , NU , ON , QC , YT
Native Distribution: Lab. to AK, s. to VT, Rockies to n. WY & mts. of WA & OR
Native Habitat: Tundra; arctic coastal bluffs; alpine acree; rock crevices.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Rocky soils.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Description: Best grown from seed.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:		FAC	FACU			FAC			FAC	FACU

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Saxifraga oppositifolia in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Saxifraga oppositifolia in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Saxifraga oppositifolia

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-27
Research By: TWC Staff

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