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, glossy leaves which are attractive in their own right, and have panicles of bell-shaped flowers, in shades of pink or white. There are also many cultivated varieties.

Bergenia 'Ice Queen' is a clump-forming cultivar, whose bright green leaves often flush to red at the edges in cold weather. It has compact clusters of pale green flowers.