Habitat: part shade
Soil: with grit and humus
Height: 15 cm
Flowering: spring
Width: 20 cm
It is hard to imagine that Bergenias are high alpines, but there are Chinese and Himalayan species that come from high in the mountains, in sheltered places on cliffs or in the lee of the high-altitude trees or rhododendrons. They make clumps or mats of large, rounded leaves and have panicles of bell-shaped flowers.
Bergenia stracheyi CC4609 is a compact, clump-forming species from Nepal and further west in the Himalaya. It has compact clusters of white flowers, which become pink as they fade.
2 litre pot £7.00
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| Bergenia 'Abendglut' has semi-double flowers of a strong rosy red-pink colour, in this variety held not much above the leaves. These are not as glossy as in some varieties, but are tinted red, making a fine background for the flowers. | |
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| Bergenia 'Bressingham White' produces lots of exquisite pure white flowers on stems which rise above the foliage. Robust broad leaves are deep green and look good all year round, which is why they are sometimes referred to as elephant ears. This delightful plant will definitely lighten any shady corner. | |
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| Bergenia cordifolia is the classic reliable ‘elephant ears’ with broad glossy leaves that are green in summer, becoming bronze red-purple in winter. Spires of lovely bell-shaped rose-pink to carmine flowers bring welcome spring colour. | |
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| Bergenia crassifolia is a very attractive and valuable winter-blooming species, bringing welcome colour as early as December. Short spikes of purple bell-shaped flowers are borne above shiny green leaves, which take on a red hue in dry or cold spells. | |
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| Bergenia purpurascens SDR4548 spreads by thick rhizomes, and has really large, glossy leaves, dark green, red when they are mature, with red stems. The spike of rich pink flowers is a bonus. |