Chrysosplenium alternifolium aka Alternate Leaf Golden Saxifrage

Chrysosplenium alternifolium is known as alternate-leaved golden saxifrage. It belongs to the Saxifragaceae family. Its native range runs from Europe to the northern Russian Far East. It also includes the Caucasus. The plant is native to Britain and Ireland. The RHS places it mainly in the north and west. It grows in temperate regions, in wet, shaded places. These include stream banks, wet rock ledges and boggy woods.

This small plant reaches about 0.7 feet [0.2 metres] tall. The RHS describes it as a herbaceous perennial. Kew lists its life form as a subshrub. It spreads by stolons, forming loose mats along the ground. Its rounded leaves have a shiny surface. They grow alternately along the stems, rather than in pairs. The foliage is deciduous. Tiny yellow flowers grow in flat clusters above the leaves. Yellowish leaves surround the blooms and add to their colour. Flowering starts in early spring and lasts for several months.

In gardens, give it a mostly shaded, sheltered spot. The RHS lists both full shade and partial shade. It needs soil that stays wet throughout the year. Poor drainage suits this plant, unlike many garden perennials. The RHS recommends neutral to alkaline soil. It lists chalk, clay and loam as suitable soil types. Plants For A Future also records wild plants on acid soils. The RHS gives it a UK hardiness rating of H5. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 4–8. The RHS gives two to five years to reach maturity.

Its low, spreading growth suits ground cover in bog gardens. It also fits wet woodland gardens and shaded edges. The RHS suggests it for wildlife gardens. Choose a site that meets its need for lasting wetness. Grow new plants from seed or divide existing clumps. It needs no pruning, according to the RHS. Pests cause few problems, though rust may affect it. Plants For A Future does not flag it as weedy.

Plants For A Future lists the leaves as edible raw. They can be added to salads, but they are small. Their bitter taste becomes stronger during hot weather. That source reports no known hazards or medicinal uses. This does not establish safety for pets.