Saxifraga tridactylites Rue-leaved Saxifrage C DD N
This is one of the lowland saxifrages, the vast majority being mountain plants. It grows in areas with neutral or basic soils so you find it very often in limestone areas. In parts of Llandudno it is even a pavement weed. It is a very early flowerer too and I have been able to record plants in flower for the WFS first week hunt from the first to the seventh of March each year.
It is quite common to find small plants with red leaves on rocks and walls where there is little nutrition but the whole plant can be green as in the RHS photo. This photo also shows the "three fingered" leaves (tri-dactyl).
It grows throughout England, Wales and Ireland but is far less frequently found in Scotland.
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| Saxifraga tridactylites Rue-leaved Saxifrage |
LHS and middle: limestone rocks on Great Orme 24th April 2008 RHS Milnethorpe 2nd February 2005
Added on 29th October 2004, amended on February 3rd 2005, updated 24th April 2008, updated 30th January 2012