Bergenia
Bergenia
Elephant’s ears
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: any soil
- Flowering period: March to May
- Height: 0,3-0,5m
- Foliage: evergreen
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Bergenia is a great foliage plant with striking, leathery, rounded leaves and bears clusters of pink, purple-pink or white flowers on erect stems in early spring.
This evergreen perennial also makes excellent ground cover, perfect for planting in partial shade or full sun.
Varieties
Bergenia cordifolia ‘Purpurea’
Bergenia cordifolia ‘Purpurea’ is grown for its deep pink flowers on red stems and heart-shaped leaves up to 30cm. It grows to about 50cm tall.
Bergenia ‘Baby Doll’
Smaller at 30cm, Bergenia ‘Baby Doll’ bears attractive soft pink flowers above bright green leaves.
Bergenia ‘Silberlicht’
Also popular are ‘Silberlicht’ and ‘Bressingham White’. Both varieties produce white flowers.
Bergenia ‘Eroica’
For dramatic winter leaf colour try Bergenia ‘Eroica’ with purple-pink flowers in spring and green leaves which turn deep red in winter.
Bergenia as a ground cover Flowers of Bergenia cordifolia ‘Purpurea’
Pruning
Pruning Bergenia (Elephant’s ears). Cut back the faded flowers stems, after flowering and remove damaged and old brown leaves in early spring.
Planting
As a ground cover best planted in a group. Add plenty of compost to the soil before planting. Plant bergenia 30-40cm apart.
Dividing
Dividing bergenia. Older plants tend to be less productive. To stimulate better flowering lift and divide large clumps after flowering or in early autumn. Cut back the leaves to 10-20cm above the clumps
Plant combination
Bergenia goes well with Alchemilla mollis, Pachysandra, Vinca minor, Ferns.
Bergenia planted with Polystichum setiferum
