Saxifraga stolonifera Curtis
Strawberry Begonia, Strawberry Saxifrage, Creeping Saxifrage, Mother of Thousands, Roving Sailor
Saxifraga stolonifera grows wild on shaded, damp rocks and stream banks across China, Japan, and Korea, where the cool forest air keeps its hairy foliage moist year-round. It forms a low rosette of rounded, scallop-edged leaves — green on top with silver veining and a reddish-pink underside — and sends out long, thread-like red stolons that dangle and produce miniature plantlets at their tips, much like a strawberry plant. In late spring and summer it raises slender flower stalks bearing dozens of tiny asymmetric white flowers, each with two long lower petals and small upper petals freckled with red and yellow. It does well in a closed or open terrarium with bright indirect light and steady moderate humidity, though the fuzzy leaves dislike water sitting on them — avoid direct misting, and give it some airflow to keep fungal spotting at bay.

Care
Prefers high humidity, indirect light, with 10–24 °C, and reaches 20 cm at maturity.
Light
Humidity
Temperature
Soil
Moisture
Soil pH
Propagation
Native range
Native to China and Eastern Asia.
Appearance
Growth habit
Leaf shape
Leaf texture
Frequently asked
Can Strawberry Begonia grow in a closed terrarium?
Yes. Strawberry Begonia prefers high (60–80%) humidity, which is what a closed terrarium provides, and tolerates indirect-light-loving conditions.
Does Strawberry Begonia need drainage?
Strawberry Begonia prefers a moist substrate. Drainage is helpful but not critical; consistent moisture matters more.
What humidity does Strawberry Begonia need?
Strawberry Begonia does best in high (60–80%) humidity.
Is Strawberry Begonia pet-safe?
Strawberry Begonia is considered non-toxic to common household pets.
How tall does Strawberry Begonia grow?
Strawberry Begonia typically reaches 10–20 cm at maturity.
How do you propagate Strawberry Begonia?
Strawberry Begonia can be propagated by division or runners.
References
- 1
Plants of the World Online — Saxifraga stolonifera Curtis
https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:251515-2 - 2
RHS — Saxifraga stolonifera (creeping saxifrage)
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/16860/saxifraga-stolonifera/details - 3
Wikipedia — Saxifraga stolonifera
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxifraga_stolonifera - 4
ASPCA — Strawberry Saxifrage (non-toxic to cats and dogs)
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/strawberry-saxifrage - 5
UK Houseplants — The Ultimate Guide for Strawberry Begonia (Saxifraga)
https://www.ukhouseplants.com/plants/strawberry-begonia - 6
Sprout Home — Saxifraga stolonifera Care Sheet
https://sprouthome.com/pages/saxifraga-stolonifera-care-sheet - 7
Houseplants Nook — Strawberry Begonia Care, Propagation & Toxicity
https://houseplantsnook.com/strawberry-begonia-care