Plant Type

Broadleaf Evergreen, Ground cover, Perennial

 

Height Range

1-3'

 

Flower Color

Lavender, Pink, Purple, Violet

 

Flower Season

Spring

 

Leaf Color

Bronze, Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Half, Shade

 

Water

Medium

 

Growth Rate

Moderate, Slow

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Poor, Well-drained

 

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

English Cottage, Formal, Japanese, Meadow, Mediterranean, Ranch, Seascape, Spanish, Tropical, Water Garden, Woodland

 

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers, Unusual Foliage

 

Seasonal Interest

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

 

Location Uses

Entry, Perennial Border, Shrub Border, Foundation, Parking Strip, Walkways

 

Special Uses

Cut Flowers, Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Bergenia has evergreen, round, heart-shaped, glossy, thick leaves, frequently with fine toothed edges. The leaves are basically stemless, growing off of a shallow rhizome, so, though the leaves are large, the plant has a fairly low profile. Some cultivars have leaves that turn reddish in winter. It is this juxtaposition of low-growing and big-leaf that makes bergenia so a fine addition to the shade border. Flowers bloom in spring, in a range of pinks, lavenders, and plums. Grows about 12 to 16" tall and 12 to 18" wide.

Grow in average to loamy well-drained soil in part to full shade. Though the leaves are evergreen, they can come out of winter a bit tattered so cut them off in spring as new growth emerges. Remove spent flower stalks. Bergenia is excellent in dry to medium dry shady areas, and pairs well with Corydalis, Alchemilla, Columbine, and the shadier geraniums.