Boykinia major

Boykinia major is a large rhizomatous perennial plant.   The flowers are made up of numerous small white flowers with yellow centres, on long thin stems.  Resembling saxifrage, it is a graceful plant, which although not very spectacular, is very useful for brightening up a shady area of planting.

Boykinia major belongs to the Saxifragaceae family.  It originates from North America, specifically the western United States from California to Montana, and is a vigorous plant.  It grows in mountain meadows and shady forests and sometimes reaches a height of 80 cm (32in) when conditions are favourable.  Flowers are carried by on slender stems. The loose panicles in corymbs, measuring 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4in) long, are composed of numerous small white flowers with yellow centres, each shaped like elongated bells. The deciduous leaves are dark green, measure 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8in) long, sometimes more, have 5 to 7 roughly lobed segments, and are carried on long petioles. This plant slowly spreads by an underground rhizome and can live for a very long time in the right position.

The Large Boykinia likes humus-rich soils without too much limestone, that is always moist. It is quite hardy, to -15°C (5°F).

Boykinia major is suited to slightly wild areas and damp understorey planting in the garden e.g. among hostas, ferns, and Thalictrum. It will thrive on the banks of steams, ponds, and lakes, where it is frequently found in the wild.