PlantFiles: Tunic Flower
Petrorhagia saxifraga

As Petrorhagia saxifraga is totally hardy in zone 3 (in this area which is subject to chinooks and no reliable snow cover), and, indeed, is one of the earliest plants to show new growth in late winter, those who have been treating it as an annual may wish to try it as a perennial.

I've grown this plant as an annual, using it in baskets and borders. Seeds are easily harvested by cutting the spent stems, putting them head first in a paper bag, then wait for them to dry out and fall into the bag.

I haven't grown it before but a friend grows it & just loves it! As for propagation, it self-seeds prolifically. It is very easy and reliable to grow. Looks similar to Baby's Breath but is much easier to grow.

I plan on getting it for 2003.

I've been growing one plant for the past 4 years. It is covered with pink blossoms from mid June to Mid August. I have not yet figured out a way to propagate it. Also, I live in zone 4. An update to this: I have had the first plant since summer of 98. It's now 2005. A couple of years ago I found another source and bought 6 more plants.. I found info that says propagation is by stem tip cuttings taken shortly after growth starts in spring. I have not tried this yet but plan to this spring. I have never seen any seedlings from this plant. My soil ph is 6.5 to 7.0. One catalog listed it as borderline hardy for zone 4, but it has survived some nasty winters with little to no snow cover and no mulch. This past winter has been the worst I've seen in 20+ years of gardening. If it makes it this year it should handle just about anything.