Perennial of the Saxifragaceae family, Saxifraga burseriana is a species of the Eastern Alps and the Dolomites, where it occupies the cracks of calcareous rocks and consolidated screes between 1,500 and 2,800 meters of altitude. 'Crenata' is a cultivar selected for its flowers with slightly crenated or wavy petal edges, a characteristic that distinguishes it from the type species.
It forms a dense and prickly cushion, 3 to 8 cm in height, composed of small tight rosettes with linear, glaucous, rigid, and mucronate leaves, encrusted with limestone on the edges. This evergreen foliage, with a bluish gray-green hue, gives the plant a visual presence even when not in bloom.
The flowers, pure white, are large relative to the size of the plant, borne singly on short reddish and hairy stems that emerge directly from the cushion. The yellow-green center of the flowers, surrounded by stamens with yellow anthers, stands out sharply against the white petals. The red calyces of the flower buds form a striking contrast before opening. In its natural habitat, the species blooms from March to May depending on altitude. In cultivation, 'Crenata' blooms from February-March, sometimes under the snow.
Its cultivation requires rigorous drainage, a lean calcareous substrate, a sunny exposure, and protection against stagnant winter moisture. It is preferably grown in a trough or pot, under glass shelter in winter in regions with rainy winters.