Bergenias typically have bell-shaped flowers, up to an inch in length, borne in showy clusters during spring. Most are good for groundcover in sun or shade on just about any cool, fertile, well drained soil whether moist or dry ( foliage may turn brown in hot sun if soil is too dry ). They are also great for the perennial border between the very low front layer and taller plants in the back. They look best in mass plantings.
Bergenia can tolerates temperatures below -35 F if the soil is mulched, they can also tolerate as hot as 115 F if on moist soil in shade. Bergenias are not prone to pests or disease, other than occasional slugs. Slugs can be treated by sprinkling Diotomacous Earth around the plants. They can be propagated from division immediately after blooming.
* photo taken on Sep 17 2012 in Columbia, MD
Bergenia ciliata ( Fringed Bergenia )
A very rare perennial forming a deciduous clump up to 1.5 feet x 32+ inches in size, that is native to mountain woodlands in Kashmir and Afghanistan.
The huge, soft furry leaves, up to 10 x 14 inches, are among the most beautiful of all Bergenia. The foliage is green, turning to red in autumn.
The pinkish-white flowers are borne during spring.
Hardy zones 6 to 7 ( 5 on protected site ) in sun or partial shade.
* photos taken on Aug 25 2011 @ Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore College, PA
* photos taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC
* photos taken @ Smithsonian Inst, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014
var ligulata
Also called Bergenia pacumbis. Larger growing, reaching up to 20 inches in height, with very large, soft fuzzy leaves, up to 2 x 2 feet in size. The deciduous mid-green foliage turns to red during autumn.
The pink flowers are borne on upright spikes during very early spring.
Hardy zones 7 to 8.
Bergenia cordifolia ( Heartleaf Bergenia )
A groundcover perennial, reaching up to 2 x 6 feet ( typically under 1 x 3 feet ), that is native to mountains from the Caucasus to Siberia and Mongolia.
The leathery, elliptical th heart-shaped leaves, up to 12 x 11 inches, are glossy deep green.
The foliage turns to bronze-red during fall and winter.
The nodding purplish-pink flowers, up to 0.8 inches long, are borne on stalks up to 2 feet high during mid to late spring. The flowers are borne on red stalks.
Hardy zones 2 to 8 ( mulch heavily with straw north of 4 for winter protection ) in sun or shade on fertile, mosit, well drained soil.
* photo taken on Nov 8 2011 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on Aug 3 2012 in London, Ontario
* photos taken on Jul 17 2017 in Ottawa, ON
'Evening Bells'
The deep purplish-green leaves are up to 8 inches in length, and the flowers are reddish-purple.
'Perfecta'
Reaches up to 20 inches in height, with pinkish-red flowers.
The large leaves are bronzy-green.
'Purpurea'
Purple foliage with pinkish-purple flowers.
* photos taken on April 14 2010 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on June 1 2010 in Columbia, MD
Bergenia crassifolia
A groundcover perennial, forming clumps reaching a maximum size of 1.6 x 6 feet ( typically under 3 feet in width ), that is native to Siberia, eastern Kazakhstan and Mongolia.
The toothed, oval, leathery, evergreen leaves, up to 10 x 9 ( rarely 16 x 12 ) inches in size, are mid-green turning reddish-green during winter.
The lavender-pink flowers are borne during spring.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in sun or shade.
'Red Star'
Forms an evergreen clump, up to 1.5 x 4 feet. The thick, evergreen leaves, up to 16 x 12 inches, are glossy green.
The reddish-pink flowers are borne on stalks up to 2 feet high during spring.
Bergenia emiensis
'Snow Chimes'
Reaches up to 20 x 40 inches, with evergreen glossy foliage that turns to red in winter.
Heat tolerant.
Bergenia hybrida
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in sun or shade.
'Baby Doll'
Compact in habit, forming a moderate growing clump up to 1 x 2 feet.
The small leaves are only up to 4 inches in length.
The very abundant, clear pink flowers are borne during mid to late spring, often repeating in early autumn.
'Bressingham Ruby'
A hybrid between Bergenia purpurescens and B. cordifolia. It forms a rhizomatous perennial, reaching up to 1.2 x 2 feet. It makes an excellent groundcover.
The deep green foliage turns to deep red during winter. The oval to rounded leaves are up to 10 x 6.5 feet.
The pinkish-red flowers appear during mid to late spring.
Hardy zones 3 to 8. Not eaten by deer.
'Bressingham White'
Vigorous growing, with flowers borne during early spring, that are pure white fading to pink.
'Evening Glow'
A groundcover perennial, forming a clump reaching a maximum size of 2 x 6 feet ( typically less than 3 feet in width ) with foliage that turns deep red in winter.
The flowers are deep pinkish-red.
'Rosi Klose'
Also called Bergenia x britten. An evergreen, clumping perennial, up to 15 inches high, with glossy deep green foliage that turns to bronze-red during winter.
The pink flowers are borne during mid sprig, often repeating later in the year.
Resistant to foliage diseases.
Berbenia emeiensis
A groundcover perennial, reaching up to 14 inches in height, that is native to Sichuan Province in China.
The leathery narrow obovate leaves are up to 7 x 3.5 inches in size.
The flowers are white to reddish-pink.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in sun or shade.
Bergenia purpurascens ( Chinese Bergenia )
Also called Bergenia delavayi. A groundcover perennial, forming a clump up to 20 inches x 4 feet, that is native to the Himalayas ( from central Nepal to Yunnan Province in western China ).
The smooth-edged, rounded leaves, up to 10 inches in length, are mid green turning to deep red during winter.
The reddish-pink flowers are borne during mid spring.
Hardy zones 3 to 8, in sun or shade.
'Ballawley'
Reaches up to 2 feet with very large, glossy leaves, up to 12 x 8 inches across, that turn to purplish during winter.
The flowers are deep red.
Bergenia x schmidtii
A vigorous, low, groundcover perennial, forming clumps reaching a maximum size of 1 x 4 feet.
The large, toothed, rounded leaves, up to 10 x 6 inches, are rich green.
The flowers are clear reddish-pink. The flowers are borne late winter into early spring and may require protection from late freezes.
Hardy zones 3 to 8
'Silver Light'
White flowers
'Bergenia 'Spring Fling'
Forms a foliage clump up to 1.2 x 1.7 feet at the end of the first summer.
The obovate leaves are up to 7 x 4.2 inches in size.
The deep pink flowers are borne in huge clusters, up to 7 x 5.5 inches in size and reach up to 1.5 feet in height.
Hardy zones 3 to 8
* patent photo
Bergenia stracheyi
A groundcover perennial, forming large patches reaching a maximum size of 15 inches x 6 feet, that is native to Tadzhikistan, northern Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Himalayas.
The obovate leaves, up to 8 x 3 inches in length, are mid-green, turning intense red during autumn.
The pink flowers, up to 1 inch long, are borne on stalks up to 10 inches high.
Hardy zones 3 to 8.
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