Are bergenia perennials?
Bergenia are one of the tried and true perennials. They are long lived and “tough as nails”. They look fabulous in old established plantings or in new beds. Their large bold leaves offer a thick texture that easily works into just about any design style including containers. Bergenia cordifolia. Native to Siberia, Bergenia cordifolia is also known as Heartleaf Bergenia, and is a clump-forming perennial noted for its hardiness and vigor. Amazingly hardy to zone 3, and evergreen, this plant looks best in mass plantings.Low-growing and clump-forming, bergenia is most effective when planted en masse to carpet woodland and shade gardens or to edge pathways and borders. However, it also makes a stunning specimen or container plant thanks to its bold, eye-catching foliage.Bergenia ‘Silberlicht’ From April to May, it produces white bell-shaped flowers clustered in an umbel. Highly resilient to cold and frost, it thrives in semi-shaded locations. Optimal growth occurs in acidic, moist, and cool soil.Grow bergenias in sun, partial shade or shade, in well drained soil. Mulch annually after flowering to promote good leaf growth and divide congested clumps in spring or autumn every few years. Deadhead after flowering and remove any tatty leaves to keep plants looking tidy.
What is the common name for bergenia?
The common names for Bergenia are pigsqueak (due to the sound produced when two leaves are rubbed together), elephant’s ears (due to the shape of the leaves) and large rockfoil. It’s easy to grow new bergenia plants by dividing established clumps, and the resulting plants will bloom in the following flowering season. You can also grow them from collected seeds, but it is a slower and more careful process.Bergenia is a perennial plant that is known for its cold hardiness and unusual evergreen leaves. It is sometimes called Elephant’s Ears because of its large leaf size, but because of the glossy leaves making a ‘squeak’ sound when you rub a finger over them.Tough, hardy and easy to grow, bergenias are often under-rated, but provide valuable evergreen ground cover, even in tricky sites. These versatile perennials thrive in sun or shade, coping in most soil types, including dry conditions.Likes. Happy in sun or shade, bergenias thrive in humus-rich, moist but well drained soil. They will also tolerate poor soil, and this can enhance the leaves’ reddish tints in autumn and winter.Propagating bergenia Cut the remaining thick fleshy rhizomes (underground stems) into several sections, each with one or more leaf rosettes (see photo above). These sections can then be potted up or planted in the ground ready to grow on for next year.
Where is the best place to plant bergenia?
Choose a partially sunny spot, though bergenia can grow in shade. Prepare soil with organic matter that can stay moist but is still well-draining. Regular watering is not necessary since bergenia are drought-tolerant, but give them a drink if the soil has truly dried out. Low-growing and clump-forming, bergenia is most effective when planted en masse to carpet woodland and shade gardens or to edge pathways and borders. However, it also makes a stunning specimen or container plant thanks to its bold, eye-catching foliage.Several factors can prevent Purple bergenia from blooming, including insufficient light, inadequate watering, poor soil conditions, and nutrient deficiencies.Bergenia is a perennial plant that is known for its cold hardiness and unusual evergreen leaves. It is sometimes called Elephant’s Ears because of its large leaf size, but because of the glossy leaves making a ‘squeak’ sound when you rub a finger over them.Divide congested clumps of bergenia every 3-5 years to help maintain plant vigour and produce more plants for your garden. After several years, the centre of the plants starts to lose energy and die off.Bergenia has large, shiny leaves that look best when planted en masse, either as a groundcover or a border.
How often should bergenia be watered?
If you grow your Heartleaf bergenia outdoors in the ground, you can use a similar method to test the soil. Again, when you find that the first few inches of soil have dried out, it is time to add water. During the spring and early fall, this method will often lead you to water this plant about once every week. Transplanting bergenia will be necessary for survival. Every three to five years, bergenia plants also need to be divided. You’ll know when to divide bergenia by the overall appearance, health, and vigor of the plant. If they begin to look spindly, are blooming less, or have open spaces in the center, divide them.