Opposite-leaved golden-saxifrage.

At a glance

Care level

Moderate

Plant type

Perennial herb

Light

Partial shade to full shade

Indoor light

Medium light

Water

Every 2 to 4 days

Mature size

4 to 6 inches tall

Growth rate

Medium

Hardiness

USDA 4 to 8

Bloom time

Early to mid spring

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist, as this plant hates drying out. Watch for wilting, which is a clear sign it needs more water or higher humidity. It thrives best when protected from harsh, direct sun.

Watering

Keep the soil damp at all times, but avoid letting it sit in stagnant water.

Feeding

Apply a balanced, diluted liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.

Pruning

Trim back dead or straggly stems after flowering to encourage fresh growth.

Repotting

Refresh the soil and move to a slightly larger container when the plant becomes root-bound.

Soil

Moist, humus-rich, well-draining soil

Soil pH

Neutral to slightly acidic

Temperature

-20 to 25°C

Humidity

60 to 90%

Drought tolerance

Low

Lifespan

Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years.

Deer and rabbits

Moderate

Safety

People

There is no significant toxicity reported for this plant.

Children

The plant is low-growing and poses no specific risk to children, though it should not be ingested.

Edibility

This plant is not considered edible and should be avoided.

How to identify it

• Low growing mat forming habit
• Opposite, rounded, scalloped leaves
• Tiny, yellow-green, star shaped flowers
• Fleshy, succulent like stems

Height

0.05 to 0.15m

Spread

0.15 to 0.3m

Leaves

bright green, semi-evergreen

Flowers

yellow-green, 0.5 to 1cm

Problems to watch for

• Slugs and snails · These mollusks can chew holes in the succulent leaves during wet weather.

Growing it

Propagation

division, seed

When to plant

spring, autumn

Overwintering

The plant remains semi-evergreen in mild climates. In colder regions, it will die back to the ground and should be mulched lightly to protect the roots.

In containers

It grows well in shallow, wide containers that can be kept consistently moist.

Plant this in the cool, damp margins of a pond or stream where other plants might struggle with the constant moisture.

Grows well with

• Primrose · They share similar requirements for cool, moist, shaded woodland soil.
• Ferns · Ferns provide the dappled shade that keeps the soil cool for this low grower.

Similar species

• Alternate-leaved golden saxifrage · It is a close relative with similar growth habits but alternate leaf arrangement.

Science

Family

Saxifragaceae

Genus

Chrysosplenium

Order

Saxifragales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Western and central Europe.

Conservation

It is common in its native range and not currently of conservation concern.

It acts as a pioneer species in wet, shaded woodland habitats by forming dense mats that hold soil in place.

Value to wildlife

early season nectar source

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Uses

groundcover for damp areas, woodland garden filler

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need full sun?

No, it prefers partial to full shade to keep its foliage from scorching.

Can it grow in standing water?

It loves very moist soil but prefers not to be fully submerged.

Where the name comes from

The name Chrysosplenium comes from the Greek words for gold and spleen, reflecting its yellow flowers and historical use in herbal medicine. The specific epithet oppositifolium refers to its opposite leaf arrangement.

Good to know

• It is commonly known as opposite-leaved golden saxifrage.
• The flowers lack true petals and rely on bright yellow sepals to attract pollinators.
• It spreads slowly by creeping stems that root at the nodes.

Also in

• Plants for shade