Saxifraga stolonifera
Saxifraga stolonifera (Strawberry Saxifrage) Care Guide
Featured photosaxifraga-stolonifera.jpgSaxifraga stolonifera, sold as the strawberry saxifrage or strawberry begonia, is an East Asian Saxifragaceae with rounded fuzzy green leaves marked in pale silver veins and red leaf undersides. The plant spreads by stoloniferous runners that produce small clones at their tips, similar in habit to strawberry plants.
Care facts at a glance
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Water when the top 2 cm of mix has dried.
- Humidity
- 40–60 %
- Temperature
- 10–24 °C
- Soil
- Free-draining peat-rich houseplant mix with perlite.
- Origin
- Mountains of China, Japan, and Korea.
- Mature size
- 20 to 30 cm tall, spreading via runners.
Overview
Saxifraga stolonifera belongs to Saxifraga, a large genus of mostly alpine plants. The species is unusual in tolerating warm indoor conditions and propagates clonally via stoloniferous runners — slender stems that arch outward from the parent rosette and produce small ready-rooted plantlets at their tips, similar in habit to strawberry plants.
Care Priorities
- Bright filtered light keeps the silver leaf venation sharp.
- Cool to moderate temperatures (10 to 24 °C); the species tolerates cooler conditions than most cultivated foliage.
- Even moisture; let the top 2 cm of mix dry between waterings.
- Pin runners against substrate to root new plants.
Common Problems
Brown crispy leaf edges signal dry indoor air. Pale leaves indicate too little light. Powdery mildew develops in still humid air; improve airflow around the plant.
Sources & further reading (2)
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-29
- botanical-garden — accessed 2026-04-29
Frequently asked questions
Is it really a Begonia?
No — despite the trade name 'strawberry begonia', S. stolonifera is in Saxifragaceae, not Begoniaceae. The 'begonia' label comes from the resemblance of the rounded fuzzy leaves to those of some Begonia species. Care requirements are different from true Begonia.
Why does it produce small plantlets at the end of stems?
S. stolonifera spreads via stoloniferous runners — slender stems that arch outward and develop small clonal plantlets (with their own roots) at the tips. Pinning the runner against moist substrate lets the new plantlet establish before being severed from the parent.
Will it tolerate a cool windowsill?
Yes — S. stolonifera tolerates cooler conditions than most cultivated foliage, growing well at 10 to 24 °C. Cool conditions actually intensify the silver leaf venation. Avoid sustained sub-zero temperatures, which damage the rosette.
