Saxifraga

About 300 species of perennial herbs of diverse form, native especially to mountains and rocky places in temperate, subarctic, and alpine regions around the globe. "Saxifraga" comes from Latin meaning "to break rock". Often cultivated as ornamentals, the genus includes many good rock garden subjects. Leaves of the species listed here have a rather distinctive thick, crisp, succulent texture. Saxifrages as a group prefer well-drained, non-acidic soil. These species do well in pockets of soil among rocks. It is best to situate them where they have some protection from the sun during the hottest part of the day.