woodland wildflower

Purple Saxifrage

Saxifraga oppositifolia

Also known as Purple Mountain Saxifrage

Native to Alaska, Idaho, Montana, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming and Canada

Labrador to Alaska, south to Vermont, Rockies to northern Wyoming and mountains of Washington and Oregon

In the garden

A woodland wildflower for partial shade and lean, dry soil. At up to 2 in, it tucks into shade gardens and woodland edges. Hardy in USDA zones 1–8.

Light

Full sun Partial shade Full shade

Moisture

Dry Moist Wet

Find your zone:

Flower flies Broad-banded Aphideater

also Holarctic Bristleside, Platycheirus carinatus, Black-tailed Aphideater +2 more
Comma-spot Aphideater, Black Aphideater
Butterflies Titania's Fritillary

also Clossiana polaris, Clossiana chariclea, Arctic Blue +1 more
Agriades aquilo
Bees Polar Bumble Bee also Western Honey Bee, Alpine Bumble Bee, Andrena rogenhoferi

Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.

Habitat: WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
Native range: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming and CanadaUnited States (8): AK, ID, MT, NY, OR, VT, WA, WY. Canada (10): AB, BC, MB, NL, NS, NT, NU, ON, QC, YT. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
Native distribution: Labrador to Alaska, south to Vermont, Rockies to northern Wyoming and mountains of Washington and OregonThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.

Light: Partial shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
Moisture: DryThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
Hardiness zones: USDA 1–8 · Canadian 0–8The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
Soil: Rocky soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.

Height: up to 2 in (to 5 cm)Typical mature height.
Life cycle: PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).