(saxifraga ferruginea)
The Alaska Saxifrage (saxifraga ferruginea) is a perennial flower found on Vancouver Island as well as most of BC. I quite often see it in the Gary Oak meadows. The flowers range from white to purple, and the stems are red. They are quite beautiful.
Take a walk in the Harewood Plains, and you can see this flower in abundance from April to May. The Harewood Plains Meadows are filled with a variety of plants, insects and birds, and this changes month to month. This area is a treasure that is under attack by those who wish to develop the area into homes. This would be such a loss not only to Nanaimo but to BC.
Look for it in moist areas, mossy rock outcrops, stream sides, or rocky bluffs. It’s a nice flower to see trailside as you walk in a Garry Oak Meadow.