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Mother of Thousands

In one Connecticut rock garden this old-fashioned plant lives through the winter under a protective mulch, comes up vigorously in spring – and is a constant supply of little plants to pot up for summer church bazaars. In late spring it waves fleecy clouds of white flowers on tall stems above its heavy rosette of stiff-hairy leaves. In a single season it sends out countless wiry, red, strawberry-like runners tipped with tiny plantlets. Two more colorful versions – ‘Maroon Beauty’ and ‘Bronze Beauty’ – are available.

These plants are delightful in hanging basket or strawberry jar, or overflowing a window box or other summer container. Indoors in winter they prefer cool (50 degrees) humid air, and full sun to build up buds for spring flowering. In summer the foliage is most attractively marked in light shade. Propagation by severing runners is ridiculously easy.

The variegated variety, tricolor – ‘Magic Carpet’ or ‘Fairy Carpet’ – is something else again. It looks infinitely more tender, with smaller, shiny, red-rimmed leaves more ivory-pink than green – and it is. I can grow it only by keeping the soil frighteningly dry. Saxifraga ligulata (correctly Bergenia ligulata) – winter begonia – has pink, begonialike flowers on tall stems in spring; another perennial recommended for indoor growing.

Family: Saxifragaceae
Common Name: Strawberry Geranium or Begonia