Bergenia
Bergenia
An interesting and well-loved genus of about 8 species of mainly evergreen perennials with distinct, thick, glandular leaves, and large basal rootstocks.
The genus is named after a Frankfurt botanist and physician Karl A. von Bergen.
There are several interesting species described below
Bergenia crassifolia Elephant-eared saxifrage, Elephant's ears.
Bergenia crassifolia, better known by its previous name B. cordifolia, is the widest grown member of the genus with its large roundish, smooth, heart shaped, leaves with toothed edges. It has many common names based on the shape of its leaves - elephant-eared saxifrage, elephant's ears, Korean elephant-ear, badan, Siberian tea, Mongolian tea, leather bergenia, winter-blooming bergenia, heartleaf bergenia, elephant-ears, heart-leaved bergenia.
Discovered in was introduced from Siberia in 1765.
It flowers in early spring by sending up quite long panicles of rosey red flowers on 300 – 500mm stems which hold the flowers above the leaves making a lovely sight for a long period of time. It has also been used as a cut flower.
It is very adaptable to a variety of conditions and thrives in dense shade, in an open border or rock gardens. Very easy care with no pest or disease issues except an occasional pest eating a bit of the leaves.
Propagation is easy by dividing the large fat fleshy stem into pieces each with a growing tip. This is best done in late autumn, winter and early spring and replanted in position.
While the rosey pink form is the most common there are a number of other forms and cultivars available.
There are a number of other cultivars mentioned in the literature which may be available in some countries. Care should be taken to ensure they are actually different for existing cultivars,
There is also a hybrid between B.Ciliata and B.crassifolia.
B x schmidtii. Large clear pink Flowers growing to 450mm high and large toothed leaves.
Bergenia ciliata – Winter Bergen
This species is quite interesting as it has large rounded nice bright green leaves covered in coarse hairs which are prominent in spring.
It flowers in spring producing upright green stems of pinkish crimson flowers fading to white or pink.
In winter the leaves die down and new leaves in spring can be damaged by frost. Planting under trees or large shrubs will provide protection.
Bergenia delaveyi Syn B.purpurescens
This species has large fleshy purple tinted leaves which turn a deeper colour in winter and has bright pink flowers in spring. Introduced from Yunnan in China in 1850.
Bergenia stracheyi
Small leaves with hairs ont he edges and wedge shaped at the base of the leaf.
Images of Bergenia sprcies and many new cultivars can be found on my Pinterest page Bergenia.
An interesting and well-loved genus of about 8 species of mainly evergreen perennials with distinct, thick, glandular leaves, and large basal rootstocks.
The genus is named after a Frankfurt botanist and physician Karl A. von Bergen.
There are several interesting species described below
Bergenia crassifolia Elephant-eared saxifrage, Elephant's ears.
Bergenia crassifolia, better known by its previous name B. cordifolia, is the widest grown member of the genus with its large roundish, smooth, heart shaped, leaves with toothed edges. It has many common names based on the shape of its leaves - elephant-eared saxifrage, elephant's ears, Korean elephant-ear, badan, Siberian tea, Mongolian tea, leather bergenia, winter-blooming bergenia, heartleaf bergenia, elephant-ears, heart-leaved bergenia.
Discovered in was introduced from Siberia in 1765.
It flowers in early spring by sending up quite long panicles of rosey red flowers on 300 – 500mm stems which hold the flowers above the leaves making a lovely sight for a long period of time. It has also been used as a cut flower.
It is very adaptable to a variety of conditions and thrives in dense shade, in an open border or rock gardens. Very easy care with no pest or disease issues except an occasional pest eating a bit of the leaves.
Propagation is easy by dividing the large fat fleshy stem into pieces each with a growing tip. This is best done in late autumn, winter and early spring and replanted in position.
While the rosey pink form is the most common there are a number of other forms and cultivars available.
- ‘Abenglut’ (Evening Glow) glowing rosey red flowers.
- 'Aureo Marginata' Leaves streaked cream and dull purple.
- Ballawley’ bright rosey red flowers with deep green leaves
- ‘Bressingham Salmon’ handsome foliage with many arching sprays of salmon pink flowers.
- ‘Bressingham White’ White flowers
- ‘Beethoven’ Clear pink flowers of erect stems good foliage
- ‘Flore Pleno’ Large sprays of double rose- pink flowers
- ‘Morgenrote’ (Morning Blush) deep pink flowers, strong growing
- ‘Purpurea’ Large leaves turning purple in winter, magenta flowers. Found in Siberia in 1779.
- ‘Purpurglochen’ Small plant with rounded puckered leaves and purplish flowers
- ‘Silberlicht’ (Silver Light) pure white flowers fading to light pink with dark leaves
- ‘Sunningdale’ rich deep pink flowers with glossy green leaves which turn maroon in winter
There are a number of other cultivars mentioned in the literature which may be available in some countries. Care should be taken to ensure they are actually different for existing cultivars,
There is also a hybrid between B.Ciliata and B.crassifolia.
B x schmidtii. Large clear pink Flowers growing to 450mm high and large toothed leaves.
Bergenia ciliata – Winter Bergen
This species is quite interesting as it has large rounded nice bright green leaves covered in coarse hairs which are prominent in spring.
It flowers in spring producing upright green stems of pinkish crimson flowers fading to white or pink.
In winter the leaves die down and new leaves in spring can be damaged by frost. Planting under trees or large shrubs will provide protection.
Bergenia delaveyi Syn B.purpurescens
This species has large fleshy purple tinted leaves which turn a deeper colour in winter and has bright pink flowers in spring. Introduced from Yunnan in China in 1850.
Bergenia stracheyi
Small leaves with hairs ont he edges and wedge shaped at the base of the leaf.
- B. stracheyi 'Alba’ Small plant from the Himalayas with small rounded leaves and short heads of white flowers
- B. stracheyi 'Afghanica'
Images of Bergenia sprcies and many new cultivars can be found on my Pinterest page Bergenia.