Meadow Saxifrage
Saxifraga granulata 'Plena'
Saxifrage family (Saxifragaceae)
Mother of all manor house introduced plants
From the wild, yet rare, Dutch saxifrage comes a cultivated variety: Saxifraga granulata ‘Plena’. This plant has stamens that have been selected to resemble additional petals, which makes the flower look much fuller. This variety flowers for longer but does not produce any fruits.
According to the Doctrine of Signatures (i.e. the idea that the shape or character of a plant hints at its medicinal use), the nodules were believed an excellent remedy for gall- and kidney stones. The plant was therefore grown in monasteries as a medicinal plant throughout the Middle Ages.
In the Netherlands it is known as ‘Haarlems klokkenspel’ or Haarlem chimes. It grows on the Schierstins Estate in Feanwalden (Veenwouden) and is called ‘stinze blomke’ (flower from the ‘stinze’ or ‘the estate’) by the locals. The botanist Jacob Bolke (1877-1932) continued to use this colloquial name, which ultimately led to the more general term ‘stinzen plant’ for all foreign, ancient, often early flowering, (bulb) plants grown exclusively at manor houses and on estates.
Themes
Crown jewel of Domies Toen.
The meadow saxifrage is a cultivar of the native Saxifraga granulata. This plant with its full, showy flowers started to become cultivated in around 1720. The Haarlemmerhout forest is renown for these double flowers (the 'Haarlems klokkenspel' or 'saxifrage from Haarlem') which have grown here for centuries and possibly the original name of Haarlem in the Dutch flower's name is derived from this forest.
Details
Description: | Bulbous or tuberous plant, with an evergreen basal rosette of leaves. |
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Distributions: | Only found in cultivation. |
Habitat: | Cultivated for large estates; escaped and naturalised in shady grasslands and along forest trails, especially on country estates. |
Year cycle: | Perennial (polycarpic evergreen) |
Hardiness: | -4 - 5 f (hardy - very cold winter) |
Flowering period: | Mei - juni |
Flower color: | White |
Notes on flowers: | Flowers fully double. |
At its best: | Mei - juni |