PENDANT BEAUTY
Saxifraga stolonifera For a hanging plant, this saxifrage from Japan, China, Korea and Taiwan is a great choice. It has scallop-edged, dark green leaves, which have attractive pale green-silver veining and striking reddish-purple undersides. Like strawberry plants, they produce thin stolons, which are horizontal stems where baby plants form; hence its common name of strawberry saxifrage. Tall flower spikes of slender, white, star-like flowers appear in summer, and it is unusual, as it is one of a small number of houseplants that will survive outdoors in a frost-free garden. It should be kept out of the reach of children and pets. Trails to 12in (30cm); spread 39in (1m).
Conditions: 10-18°C in a bright position out of strong sunshine. It does not need high humidity and will benefit from being planted in free-draining soil. A handful of perlite or horticultural grit can be added to houseplant compost when potting up.
Watering: The soil should be kept on the damp side, but the plant should not be allowed to sit in waterlogged soil. Watering is reduced in autumn and winter, keeping the compost on the dry side.
Feeding: A weekly dose of dilute balanced houseplant fertiliser is recommended.
Propagation: Baby plants can be pegged down into a spot of bare soil in the pot until they have formed roots, or another pot filled with compost and placed alongside the parent plant, pinning down the baby plants so that they sit on the surface of the compost. Roots will develop and push down into the compost, and once they can fend for themselves, the stolon can be snipped away from the main plant.