9.) SAXIFRAGACEAE & CRASSULACEAE

SAXIFRAGACEAE - Saxifrage family

BERGENIA Moench

Bergenia crassifolia (L.) (var. crassifolia) Fritsch (Elephant-ears) / General Very Rare A very rare garden throwout. Widely cultivated for ornamental use. Native to Asia where it grows on shady north-facing rocks, stony slopes, and rocky streams in forests and alpine regions.
Bergenia cordifolia (Haw.) Sternb. (Heart-leaved Elephant-ears) General Very Rare - 1 BSBI record Recorded once from Clevedon in 2010s? by ? [BSBI record].
Bergenia crassifolia x B. ciliata = B. x schmidtii (Regel) Silva Tar. (Ciliate Elephant-ears) General Very Rare - 2 BSBI record's Recorded at Portishead in 2010s? by ? and at Pensford in 2010s? by ? [BSBI records]

DARMERA Voss ex Post & Kuntze

Darmera peltata (Torr. ex Benth.) Voss ex Post & Kuntze (Indian-rhubarb) General Very Rare A very rare garden outcast where it can persist. Recorded at Newton Saint Loe in 2000 by?, Batheaston in 2008 by ?, Midford in 2010s? by? [BSBI record] and most recently from Charterhouse in 2020s? by ? [BSBI record]

SAXIFRAGA L.

Saxifraga cymbalaria L. var. huetiana (Boiss.) Engl. & Irmsch. (Celandine Saxifrage) General Very Rare A very rare introduction of damp shaded spots; escaping from gardens and garden centre's. This East Mediterranean native was first recorded in our region in 1987 by R.D.M. from the Bishopsworth area of Bristol and has since become much more widespread but hasn't been seen since 2015 when it was last recorded from Fishponds by ?.
Saxifraga stolonifera Curtis (Strawberry Saxifrage) General Extinct - 1 record from 1995 Once recorded as a garden escape from Stoke Bishop in 1995 by ?
Saxifraga cuneifolia L. (Lesser Londonpride) - 2 BSBI record's General Extinct Recorded at Burrington in 1980s? by ? and at Clevedon in 1980s? by?. [BSBI records]
Saxifraga umbrosa L. (Pyrenean Saxifrage) General Very Rare - 5 records Mentioned from Bristol in a list by Thwaites (Riddelsdell, 1948).
Saxifraga umbrosa x S. spathularis = S. x urbium D.A. Webb (Londonpride) General Extinct A very rare introduction of shaded walls and waste ground. First recorded in the Bristol Region at Cleeve Wood, Hanham in 1984 by S.A.W.-M.; then at Hencliffe Wood also in 1984 by M.E. & S.A.W.-M.; Greendown in 1986 by P.J.T.B.; Bathwick in 1999 by ?; North of Nailsea in 2004 by? and lastly from West Harptree in 2010 by ?.
Saxifraga spathularis x S. hirsuta = S. x polita (Haw.) Link (False Londonpride) - General Extinct - 1 BSBI record Once recorded East of Bristol in 1930s? by ? [BSBI record]
Saxifraga hirsuta L. (Kidney Saxifrage) - General Extinct First recorded at Yate in 1955 by ?; then found at Winscombe in 1988 by E.J.McD.; at Stancombe Quarry, Bourton Combe where it was found to be well established in 1992 by P.J.M.N. (and still present here in 2009 when it was seen by ?); Henbury in 2004 by?.
Saxifraga granulata L. (Meadow Saxifrage) - Grassland Very Rare A very rare native of steep grassy banks, pastures and lane-sides; mostly concentrated in the East of the region between Lansdown and Marshfield, near Bath and Hawkesbury. It was only known from the Somerset portion of the region during White's (1912) time and he knew it additionally occurring in "abundance on the N. and N.E. slopes of Stantonbury Hill [Stanton Prior]" and also a "small quantity by the canal at Combe Hay, 1886; A. E. Burr." which once provided a connection to the now isolated population at Chew Magna to its core range North of Bath. The two records from Bristol are clearly garden escapes. The earliest mention of Meadow Saxifrage in our region was by Lyte in 1578 - "The White Saxifrage groweth in drye, rough, stony places, as about the Colemynes beside Bathe in England."
Saxifraga hypnoides L. (Mossy Saxifrage) General Extinct

Recorded once. "A large patch on the Court Hill, Clevedon, with Erodium maritimum, 1900; S. J. Coley. It is very unlikely to be native in that locality where there are so many introduced plants. (White, 1912). Mossy Saxifrage is however native to the Cheddar Gorge (outside the region) - its southern most station in Britain.

Saxifraga hypnoides x S. tridactylites (Mossy x Rue-leaved Saxifrage) General Extinct Recorded once from Uphill in 2004 by ? A mistake?
Saxifraga rosacea Moench ssp. rosacea (Irish Saxifrage) General Very Rare Recorded naturalised for the first time in the Bristol region on a hedgebank on Castle Farm Lane, Dundry, in 2025 during a BNS meeting.
Saxifraga tridactylites L. (Rue-leaved Saxifrage) / General Uncommon Traditionally a plant of old stone walls, dry rocky banks and skeletal calcareous grassland; this plant has hugely expanded its range in recent years, now thriving in many urban areas along pavements, walls and even occasionally roofs. In 2023 D. Peters came across a spectacular site of what must have been 10s of thousands of plants completely carpeting one side of Bathurst Basin in Bristol. Three-fingered Jack is another name for it.

CHRYSOSPLENIUM L.

Chrysosplenium oppositifolium L. (Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage) / Wetland Uncommon Locally frequent in wet places besides rivers and streams, ditches, marshy places and damp woodland. Noticeably absent from the coastal stretch of the region and the south-western around the Levels and Moors. The first mention of it in our region was made in 1597 by Gerard "About Bath and Wels." (White, 1912).
Chrysosplenium alternifolium L. (Alternate-leaved Golden-saxifrage) - Wetland Very Rare Very rare in the same places as C. oppositifolium (banks of ditches, streams and damp woodland) and sometimes occurs with it. Told apart from Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage by the alternately arranged leaves going up the stem (as opposed to opposite and arranged in pairs) which are cordate at the base (not cuneate to rounded).

HEUCHERA L.

Heuchera sanguinea Engelm. (Coralbells) General Extinct - 1 BSBI record Recorded once North of Butcombe, North Somerset in 2010s? by?. [BSBI record]

TOLMIEA Torr. & A. Gray

Tolmiea menziesii (Pursh) Torr. & A. Gray (Pick-a-back-plant) General Very Rare - 2 BSBI record's Recorded at Butcombe, North Somerset in 2010s? by? and at Publow in 2020s? by? [BSBI records]

TELLIMA R. Br.

Tellima grandiflora (Pursh) Douglas ex Lindl. (Fringecups) / Wetland Rare A rare escape originating from gardens but becoming naturalised along the banks of ditches and streams, especially in damp woodland. It has made a marked expansion in range since 2000. The seeds readily disperse along water courses.

CRASSULACEAE - Stonecrop family

CRASSULA L.

Crassula tillaea Lest.-Garl. (Mossy Stonecrop) Coasts Very Rare Was discovered for the first time in our region on the sea lawns of Weston-super-Mare in 2025 by N. Burstow.
Crassula helmsii (Kirk) Cockayne (New Zealand Pigmyweed) / Wetland Scarce Widely recorded in ponds and ditches where it originates from being dumped and can become very troublesome once established; outcompeting native vegetation and blocking up waterways with its dense mat-like growing habit. The tiniest fragment can quickly regenerate into a full grown plant. This invasive species was banned from being sold in Britain in 2014 but it still sadly comes in accidentally - attached to other plants.

UMBILICUS DC.

Umbilicus rupestris (Salisb.) Dandy (Navelwort) / General Uncommon Locally frequent throughout the region on rock faces, limestone walls and dry banks. Noticeably absent from the northeast part of the region, much of Bristol and the southwest around Puxton. An unusual occurrence for it is on tarmac underneath one of the footbridges at Cumberland Basin.

CHIASTOPHYLLUM (Ledeb.) A. Berger

Chiastophyllum oppositifolium (Ledeb.) A. Berger (Lamb's-tail) General Extinct - 1 BSBI record Recorded at Winford in 2010s? by? [BSBI record]

SEMPERVIVUM L.

Sempervivum tectorum L. (House-leek) 1912 General Very Rare A very rare garden escape or more often persistent planted relic of walls and tiled roofs.
Sempervivum arachnoideum L. (Cobweb House-leek) General Very Rare - 1 BSBI record Discovered new to the region at Bath in 2020s? by ? [BSBI record]

ECHEVERIA DC.

Echeveria derenbergii J.A. Purpus (Painted-lady) General Very Rare Very rare. Found near Batheaston in 2015 by ? and most recently at Worlebury in 2021 by?.

RHODIOLA L.

Rhodiola rosea L. (Roseroot) - 1 BSBI record (Steep Holm) General Extinct [move to could occur]

SEDUM L.

Sedum praealtum A. DC. (Greater Mexican-stonecrop) General Very Rare - 1 BSBI record Discovered new to the region during a BNS Botany meeting at Portishead in 2022 by H.J. Crouch where a single plant was found growing amongst boulders near the sea front.
Sedum kimnachii V.V. Byalt (Lesser Mexican-stonecrop) General Very Rare - 2 BSBI record's Recorded at Walton Bay in 2010s? by? and most recently at Arnos Vale Cemetery in 2023 during a BNS meeting.
Sedum cepaea L. (Pink Stonecrop) General Very Rare Once recorded in Bedminster, Bristol in 2016 by R.J. Higgins?.
Sedum acre L. (Biting Stonecrop) / General Frequent Frequent throughout the region in bare rocky places, walls, skelletal grassland, sand dunes, waste places and increasingly motorway sidings where lines of yellow are produced by the yellow-flowering cushion-like plants which light up the roads on either side in June.
Sedum sexangulare L. (Tasteless Stonecrop) / General Very Rare Very rare but becoming naturalised on walls and rocky areas such as at Wick Rocks, North Somerset where it has been known since at least 1869.
Sedum album L. ssp. album (White Stonecrop) / General Frequent The commonest Stonewort in the region. Frequent in much the same places as S. acre and often with it. It is possibly native in some sites such as the Avon Gorge and has become increasingly common towards coastal areas and in some places (such as at Sand Point); has spread so much that it now smothers out the more delicate flora.
Sedum lydium Boiss. (Least Stonecrop) General Very Rare A native of Turkey; found well-established on a grave at Arnos Vale Cemetery, Bristol in 2025 by D. Peters.
Sedum anglicum Huds. (English Stonecrop) 1968 / General Very Rare Very rare in rocky places and sometimes on walls.
Sedum dasyphyllum L. (Thick-leaved Stonecrop) General Very Rare Very rare and established on old walls; mainly around Nailsea.

PHEDIMUS Raf.

Phedimus kamtschaticus (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) 't Hart var. ellacombeanus (Praeger) ined. (P. ellacombeanus (Praeger) 't Hart) (Kamchatka Stonecrop) General Very Rare A single self-sown plant was found at the base of a wall on Trym Road, Westbury-on Trym in 2024 by D. Peters. It was later destroyed but several others appeared nearby the following year for a short time before they too were destroyed by the street sweeper.
Phedimus spurius (M. Bieb.) 't Hart (Sedum spurium M. Bieb.) (Caucasian-stonecrop) / General Scarce Scattered throughout the region and established on walls, rocky areas, roadsides, waste ground and often in churchyards.
Phedimus stoloniferous (S.G. Gmel.) 't Hart (Sedum stoloniferum S.G. Gmel.) (Lesser Caucasian-stonecrop) General Scarce A very rare introduction. Discovered first at Bleadon in 1997 by J. P.M. where it grew on the edge of calcareous grassland.
Phedimus stellatus (L.) Raf. (Sedum stellatum L.) (Starry Stonecrop) 1912 General Extinct "extends itself freely where planted near the Channel at Clevedon and Weston-super-Mare."(White, 1912)

HYLOTELEPHIUM H. Ohba

Hylotelephium spectabile (Boreau) H. Ohba (Sedum spectabile Boreau) (Butterfly Stonecrop) / General Rare Commonly cultivated but rarely escaping and occasionally found dumped on banks, roadsides, tracks and waste ground where it may persist for some time.
Hylotelephium spectabile x H. telephium = H. (× mottramianum J.M.H. Shaw & R. Stephenson) 'Herbstfreude' (Autumn Stonecrop) General Very Rare - 2 BSBI record's Widely grown in gardens but rarely escapes. Recorded at Thornbury in 2020s? by ? [BSBI records] and one clump was found on a verge on Frenchay Park Road, Bristol in 2025 by D. Peters.
Hylotelephium telephium (L.) H. Ohba (Sedum telephium L.) (Orpine) - General Rare Rare in woods and rocky places, hedgebanks, railway lines and roadside verges. Only the species is mapped.
ssp. telephium (Orpine) General Rare Most records of the species refer to this.
ssp. fabaria (W.D.J. Koch) H. Ohba (Narrow-leaved Orpine) - General Extinct Once occurred "Among bushes on pennant in a rough pasture by the G.W.R. between Keynsham and Brislington; pointed out to me in 1886 by Mr. D. Fry. In 1892 I found a good quantity on similar ground at some distance on the other side of the line." Also at "Great Elm; Dr. H. F. Parsons. Still there in 1900; Miss Roper." (White, 1912). It's possible it could still occur today. Differs from ssp. telephium in having leaves tapering to a cuneate base, the lower of which is often petiolate as oppose to being more or less truncate and sessile.

PETROSEDUM Grulich

Petrosedum rupestre (L.) P.V. Heath (Sedum rupestre L.) (Reflexed Stonecrop) / General Uncommon An uncommon introduction found on walls and rocky areas, waste ground, roadsides and often churchyards where it is sometimes planted onto graves and spreads frequently by ants dispersing the seeds.
Petrosedum forsterianum (Sm.) Grulich (Sedum forsterianum Sm.) (Rock Stonecrop) - General Very Rare Very rare as a native in the Avon Gorge and some other rocky places. Most other records are garden escapes where it sometimes occurs on walls and waste ground.

Species to add:

Bergenia crassifolia (L.) Fritsch (Elephant-ears)
Bergenia cordifolia (Haw.) Sternb. (Heart-leaved Elephant-ears) - 1 BSBI record
Bergenia crassifolia x B. ciliata = B. x schmidtii (Regel) Silva Tar. (Ciliate Elephant-ears) - 2 BSBI record's
Darmera peltata (Torr. ex Benth.) Voss ex Post & Kuntze (Indian-rhubarb)
Saxifraga stolonifera Curtis (Strawberry Saxifrage) - 1 record from 1995
Saxifraga cuneifolia L. (Lesser Londonpride) - 2 BSBI record's
Saxifraga umbrosa L. (Pyrenean Saxifrage) - 5 records
Saxifraga spathularis x S. hirsuta = S. x polita (Haw.) Link (False Londonpride) - 1 BSBI record
Saxifraga hypnoides L. (Mossy Saxifrage) - "A large patch on the Court Hill, Clevedon, with Erodium maritimum, 1900; S. J. Coley." - Brist. Fl.
Saxifraga hypnoides x S. tridactylites (Mossy x Rue-leaved Saxifrage)
Saxifraga rosacea Moench ssp. rosacea (Irish Saxifrage) General
Heuchera sanguinea Engelm. (Coralbells) - 1 BSBI record
Tolmiea menziesii (Pursh) Torr. & A. Gray (Pick-a-back-plant) - 2 BSBI record's
Crassula tillaea Lest.-Garl. (Mossy Stonecrop) Coasts
Chiastophyllum oppositifolium (Ledeb.) A. Berger (Lamb's-tail) - 1 BSBI record
Echeveria derenbergii J.A. Purpus (Painted-lady)
Sempervivum arachnoideum L. (Cobweb House-leek) - 1 BSBI record
Rhodiola rosea L. (Roseroot) - 1 BSBI record (Steep Holm)
Sedum praealtum A. DC. (Greater Mexican-stonecrop) - 1 BSBI record
Sedum kimnachii V.V. Byalt (Lesser Mexican-stonecrop) - 2 BSBI record's
Sedum cepaea L. (Pink Stonecrop)
Phedimus kamtschaticus (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) 't Hart var. ellacombeanus (Praeger) ined. (Phedimus ellacombeanus (Praeger) 't Hart - Kew, GBIF) (Kamchatka Stonecrop)
Hylotelephium spectabile x H. telephium = H. 'Herbstfreude' (Autumn Stonecrop) - 2 BSBI record's

Species added by me:

Sedum lydium Boiss. (Least Stonecrop)