# Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage (*Chrysosplenium oppositifolium*) Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage is a lovely green plant that grows in damp places. Its shiny leaves grow in pairs, and it blooms with tiny yellow flowers in spring, making it a cheerful sight in nature. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Chrysosplenium_oppositifolium_240405c.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chrysosplenium_oppositifolium_240405c.jpg) ## Appearance The Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage is a small, low-growing plant with succulent-like, rounded leaves arranged in opposite pairs along its stems. Its tiny, bright yellow-green flowers are petal-less and often appear in clusters, creating a vibrant splash in damp, shady areas. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Saxifragales - **Family:** Saxifragaceae - **Genus:** Chrysosplenium ## Interesting facts - It can form a soft, emerald-green carpet in mossy forests and along stream banks. - Its tiny flowers have no petals, yet they still attract hungry little flies for pollination! - Its tiny yellow-green flowers often look like they're sparkling with dew drops! - This little plant is nicknamed 'golden-saxifrage' because it loves wet, rocky spots. ## Special abilities - **Shade Lover:** Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage has large, thin leaves that efficiently capture sunlight in dim woodland understories. - **Creeping Colonizer:** Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage spreads quickly using creeping stems, forming dense mats to cover bare ground. - **Early Bloomer:** Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage blooms very early in spring before trees leaf out, getting a head start on light. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-20 cm - **Spread:** 10-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Early spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Visits tiny flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Eaten by:** [Black Slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — Commonly grazes on its succulent leaves and stems. - **Shelter:** Common Centipede (*Lithobius forficatus*) — Hides among its dense growth in damp conditions. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch wild plants unless you know they are safe! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage? 5-20 cm ### How wide does Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage spread? 10-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage bloom? Early spring to early summer ### Is Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage edible? Yes ### Is Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage toxic? None ### What is Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage's lifecycle? Perennial ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/opposite-leaved-golden-saxifrage)