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Saxifraga pensylvanica L.

Eastern swamp saxifrage

Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage Family)

USDA Symbol: SAPE8

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A rosette of long, bluntly lance-shaped leaves surrounds a sticky, hairy stem 1-3 1/2 ft. tall.A stout, hairy, sticky stalk bearing branched clusters (at first compact, later elongated and loose) of small, usually greenish-yellow flowers. Five-petaled flowers occur on short stalks from the top of this stem and may be white, green, yellow or purple.

The young leaves of this large saxifrage can be eaten in salads or as cooked greens. The genus name is from the Latin saxum (a stone) and frangere (to break) and alludes either to the supposed ability of the plant to crack rocks (in the crevices where some members of the genus are found) or to the stone-like bulblets on the roots of a European species. In earlier times, saxifrages were assumed to have medicinal value in dissolving kidney or gallbladder stones.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Class: 3-6 ft.
Fruit Type: Capsule

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Yellow , Green , Purple
Bloom Time: May , Jun

Distribution

USA: CT , DE , IL , IN , IA , KY , ME , MD , MA , MI , MN , MO , NH , NJ , NY , NC , OH , PA , RI , VT , VA , WV , WI
Canada: ON , SK
Native Distribution: S. ME to MN, s. to n.w. NC, WV, IL & MO
Native Habitat: Wet meadows; swamps; boggy thickets; prairies
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet
Soil Description: Wet to moist, sometimes limey soils.
Conditions Comments: Not Available

Propagation

Description: Not Available
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes
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From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

Enchanter's Garden - Hinton, WV

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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