Cliff Saxifrage is a herbaceous, perennial wildflower in the saxifrage family and native to the Appalachian mountains from West Virginia south to Georgia and is common to the North Carolina mountains and Piedmont. It is found in moist rocky areas and seepage slopes and often at high elevations. The leaves are basal with large toothed margins and a hairy surface. The flowers are open with leaf-like bracts and white petals, some of which have yellow spots. Cliff Saxifrage grows best sited in full sun or partial shade and moist conditions and is at home in crevices in exposed rock outcrops at high elevations. However, this is a very specific environment that is difficult to replicate in the home landscape. Because it is a challenge to grow, it is not generally available for sale and is not recommended for most home gardens. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Moist
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-stemmed
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Rosulate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf size
> 6 inches long
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Hairy basal rosette of 3 to 7 inches high and strongly toothed. The lance-shaped leaves have large teeth. The underside is a deep maroon with age.
Fall color
Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; White
Flower value
Long Bloom Season
Flower form
Cyme; Panicle
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small, 1/2 inch, white flowers with five petals. Three larger petals have two yellow spots, the 2 smaller petals do not. Blossoms from April into October.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Cream/Tan; Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Capsules are green to yellow, sometimes with a purple tinge.