Chrysosplenium oppositifolium
opposite-leaved golden-saxifrage
Overview
Chrysosplenium oppositifolium is a low, creeping, mat-forming perennial of wet shaded ground, reaching only 5-15 cm (2-6 in) high but spreading widely by rooting runners. It has rounded to kidney-shaped, shallowly scalloped leaves 0.5-2 cm (0.2-0.8 in) across, arranged in opposite pairs along soft, square, slightly hairy stems. From early spring it produces flat-topped clusters of tiny flowers that lack petals; the colour comes instead from a ring of yellow-green leafy bracts around each cluster, giving a flush of gold across the mat. It spreads by leafy stolons that root as they go, forming continuous carpets over wet rock, mud, and stream gravel. The shallow roots make it easy to dislodge, and the plant collapses quickly if the ground dries out. Top growth is largely deciduous, dying back in dry summers and over hard winters before reappearing. It grows in deep shade and constant moisture where few other plants persist, but cannot tolerate drought, full sun, or competition from taller vegetation.
Native Range
Chrysosplenium oppositifolium is native to western and central Europe, from the British Isles and Iberia to Scandinavia. It grows in wet woodland, by shaded springs and streams, and on dripping rocks and flushes, usually on acid to neutral soils. It is not native to North America.Suggested Uses
Used as ground cover in wet, shaded gardens, on stream and pond margins, and over damp rocks and waterfall surrounds. Planted in bog gardens and shaded paving where the soil stays wet year-round. Its need for constant moisture and shade limits it to consistently damp sites.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2" - 6"
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Golden-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Tolerates up to 4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow Chrysosplenium oppositifolium in constantly moist to wet soil in partial to deep shade, such as stream banks, shaded bog gardens, and damp paving cracks. It needs acid to neutral, humus-rich ground and steady moisture, failing quickly in dry or sunny positions. The plant is hardy and needs no winter protection across temperate zones. Establish it from rooted runners or divisions pressed onto wet ground in spring or autumn. Keep the surface damp until the runners take hold. It needs no feeding and little care once the mat has knitted together.Pruning
No pruning is needed for this creeping carpeter. Lift and replant rooted runners in spring or autumn to spread it or fill gaps. Clear smothering leaf litter or taller plants that would shade and crowd the low mats.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons
