Meadow Saxifrage Saxifraga granulate
The delicate, snow-white, five-petalled flowers and long-stalked, kidney-shaped leaves are distinctive features of the meadow saxifrage and are not shared by any other wild flower in Norfolk.
Conservation status in Norfolk
This is a declining species nationally with its stronghold in eastern England. It was once a common species on hay meadows and old grasslands but as these habitats have vanished so has the meadow saxifrage.
How to help
Where meadow saxifrage grows protect these habitats. Contact Norfolk Wildlife Trust for advice and information on how to manage grasslands and meadows where meadow saxifrage is abundant.
Meadow Saxifrage: David North
Information on the Meadow Saxifrage
How to recognise
The combination of white, five-petalled flowers on a loosely branched and often sticky flower stem and the long-stalked, kidney-shaped leaves which encircle the base of the flower is distinctive. No other wildflower in Norfolk, which might be found in flower between April and June, shares these characteristics. Superficially the white-flowered stitchworts, which can also be seen along road-verges in spring, might appear similar, but stitchworts have long, thin leaves. Meadow saxifrage plants may develop small brown bead-like bilbils at the base of the lower leaves, a useful way of identifying this species when it’s not in flower.
Where to see
This species occurs widely across Norfolk, but nowhere is it common. It is normally found in patches, several plants growing close together and seems to favour well-drained areas. Grassy meadows, churchyards (The Rosary Cemetery in Norwich is a good example of a churchyard full of wildflowers, including meadow saxifrage) and roadside verges are good places to look for this flower.
When to see
Meadow saxifrage is a perennial with some of its kidney-shaped leaves remaining green in winter. It can be hard to spot their leaves as they are ground-hugging, often hidden amongst longer vegetation. Look for clusters of five-petalled white flowers appearing in mid April.
Did you know?
The scientific name, saxifraga, means stone-breaking and there are two explanations as to its origin. Some say it was given this name by the Romans who, seeing it growing in crevices of rocks, assumed wrongly that the plant’s roots had split the rock. More likely it was given this name because of its use in herbal medicine for the breaking up of gallstones.
Related questions
Surveying churchyards – Can I find any wild flower species associated with ancient grassland?
Use survey form v.
Norfolk’s churchyards provide important refuges for six wild flower species. These are:
- Burnet-saxifrage – Pimpinella saxifrage
- Cowslip – Primula veris
- Lady’s bedstraw – Galium verum
- Meadow saxifrage – Saxifraga granulate
- Oxeye daisy – Leucanthenum vulgare
- Pignut – Conopodium majus
Surveying churchyards could unearth a local population of these beautiful wild flowers - why not try and find them?
Click here for techniques on how to survey for wild flowers.