Quick Guide: spring, hardy, semi-shade, height:5cm/2in, width: 38cm/15in

The saxifrage family is large and complex, but all of its members are suitable for the rock garden. Certain types have rosettes of silvery or grey-green leaves that grow in hummocks or form mats; others are known as moss saxifrage because of the appearance of their densely packed leaves. The flowers may be star- or saucer-shaped, yellow, white, pink or red and are very freely borne. The species described here is the best-known mossy type, S. moschata.

GROWING Plant out in autumn or spring in any good garden soil in a shady site.

PROPAGATION After flowering, lift, divide and replant immediately. Alternatively, detach non-flowering rosettes in early summer, place in pans of a peat/sand mixture in a cold frame and water generously. Thereafter water sparingly until the following spring; water well over the summer, pot up individually in the autumn and plant out the following spring.

VARIETIES `Dubarry' 15cm/6in high, deep red flowers; `Peter Pan', hybrid, pink flowers on red steins, bright green leaves; `Cloth of Gold', bright yellow leaves, white flowers.

POSSIBLE PROBLEMS Grubs and root aphids may attack the roots.