Bergenia
One of the toughest ground covers there is, for sun or deep shade; its winter leaf colour is a reason to grow it as much as the flowers.
Care
Sun to full shade — leaves colour red-purple best in winter sun.
Low-medium — tough and drought-tolerant once established.
Almost any soil, including poor and dry; leaves colour best on leaner soil.
Remove old, tattered leaves in spring and spent flower stems after flowering.
Needs no feeding; rich soil gives lush green leaves that don't colour in winter.
Divide in spring after flowering or in autumn; sections of rhizome with a leaf rosette root easily.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- AprilRemove tatty old leaves and spent flower stems.
- SeptemberDivide congested clumps. how ›
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- AprilRemove tatty old leaves and spent flower stems.
- SeptemberDivide congested clumps. how ›
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- MarchRemove tatty old leaves and spent flower stems.
- SeptemberDivide congested clumps. how ›
Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- MarchRemove tatty old leaves and spent flower stems.
- OctoberDivide congested clumps. how ›
Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. Notched leaf edges.
What to do. Mostly cosmetic in the ground; check for grubs in pots.
How to spot it. Early flower spikes browned by frost.
What to do. Nothing to do; later spikes usually follow.
Questions
Bergenia: is it hardy?
H7: Fully hardy anywhere in the UK. It survives below −20 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
Yes, and useful for shady pots.
Bergenia: when do you prune it?
Remove old, tattered leaves in spring and spent flower stems after flowering. In the calendar for UK, pruning falls in April.
Bergenia: when does it flower?
In the climate of UK it flowers in February–April.
When do you feed it?
Needs no feeding; rich soil gives lush green leaves that don't colour in winter.