Saxifraga x poluanglica 'Miluj Mne'

Saxifraga x poluanglica 'Miluj Mne' in bloom in a sunny garden
Saxifraga x poluanglica 'Miluj Mne'

Evergreen perennial from the Saxifragaceae family, this cultivar belongs to the hybrid group × poluanglica of the Porphyrion section, resulting from crosses involving notably Saxifraga polifolia and related species. Its Czech name means "Love me", under which it is sometimes marketed in English as 'Love Me'. Czech or Central European horticultural origin is likely.

The plant forms a dense and spreading cushion of small rosettes with short leaves, grayish-green to dark green, distinctly calciferous on the margins, giving them a whitish edge clearly visible upon close examination. The habit is compact and regular, gradually widening over the years.

The flowers are bright pink to deep magenta pink, with a darker central eye, almost dark red, borne on very short stems at the foliage level. The flowering is abundant, widely covering the cushion, and generally occurs in cultivation from February to April depending on exposure. The intensity of the pink color, vivid and saturated, distinguishes this cultivar from many other Porphyrion hybrids with paler shades.

It is cultivated in a very well-drained substrate, calcareous to neutral, in full sun or light partial shade, with good root moisture maintained without excess. Cultivation in a pot or trough under cold shelter is recommended to protect the foliage from prolonged winter rains.