After discovering this wonderful genus of plants to grow , I was eager to find out what different types are uncommitted to choose from .
As I always say , you ca n’t have too many plant !
Honestly , I was shocked at the profuseness of wonderful types of bergenia that are on the market .
Photo via Alamy.
This is show by the 191 species , variety , and cultivars that the British Royal Horticultural Society ( RHS ) view as desirable of its recommendation .
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We can thank generation of plant life stock breeder that have aggregate the in force attributes of the wild species ofBergeniafrom Asia to give rise legion high quality cultivars .
However , as penchant in industrial plant have changed over time , and householder frequently have smaller gardens , bergenia breeders have been striving to create plant with smaller parting and larger heyday .
And they have win ! Another destination of stock breeder is to make varieties that will thrive in warm mood .
While some cultivars ofBergeniawill last in Zone 2 , most grow best in zone 3 to 8 . And to my delight as a warm - climate gardener , some will even grow in Zone 9 .
In this guide , we ’ll take a tour of 25 of my favorite bergenia form for the dwelling house garden .
Here ’s the lineup :
25 Bergenia Cultivars for Home Gardens
Careful species and cultivar choice is key to ensure that these industrial plant flourish in your garden ! If you do not know whatUSDA Hardiness Zoneyou are in , you may find out bydoing a search with your aught code .
Bergenia plants are resistant to deer , lapin , and most insect pests and diseases .
They grow every bit well as a undercoat covering fire or part of a interracial border . They also do well under tree diagram , and can even grow in containers .
Thriving on neglect and requiring very niggling maintenance , their only major problem is a susceptibility to overwatering .
You should deadhead the flowersafter they are done blooming , and the leave-taking may need to be trimmed back after a harsh winter ( or nibbling by bootleg vine weevils ) . plant should be divide every three to five year .
Otherwise , this is so small to ask in exchange for a cornucopia of flowers in the spring , and leave that typically plough bronze or purpleness in the surrender or winter .
you could see to grow bergenia in your garden in our template .
British gardeners are frequently downright obsessive about bergenia , as verbalise by the famed British horticulturist Beth Chatto .
In addition , the recent gardener David Hicks was have intercourse for his increase of this genus , although in distinctive eccentric fashion , he snip off the flowers off and just admired the foliage .
German breeders have been outstanding in the production of many bergenia cultivars , as you’re able to tell from their public figure .
Other cultivars suffer proper British names , such as the Bressingham series produced by Alan Bloom , lauded by the Times of London as“a titan of British horticulture”and the owner of Bressingham Gardens .
The most common species found in menage gardens isB. crassifolia .
It was initially thought thatB. crassifoliaandB. cordifoliawere two distinct mintage but they are now acknowledge as the same specie , and the figure are synonyms .
As a result , you may rule cultivar number by either of these names as they are often used interchangeably .
We will cover some of the more popular cultivars and types of bergenia that have encounter the esteemed RHS Award of Garden Merit ( AGM ) . All variety include here are make love for being highly attractive to bees and other pollinator as well .
So , encounter up on your German , and countenance ’s take a circuit of the elite cultivars of bergenia ! Most of the ones chosen here are famous throughout the worldly concern .
1. Abendglocken
This stunning intercrossed cultivar has morose lilac - pink flowers on stout stems . It was bred in the thirties by the prominent German works breeder Georg Arends fromB.ciliataandB. purpurascensparentage .
Known as ‘ Evening Bells ’ in English , it has relatively open flowers in comparability to most types .
In summation , the very large ellipse leaves are nearly eight inch across . They start the time of year dark green , and sprain red in the fall .
The plants produce one to two foot tall and wide , and are intrepid in Zones 4 - 8 .
2. Ballawley
Like many of the picks on this leaning , B. purpurascens‘Ballawley ’ has also been recommended by expert at the horticulture part of the School of Integrative Plant Science atCornell University .
This cultivar can spread 20 inches and bring out its vivid ruby-red flowers on erect reddish stems that can reach two foot tall .
An additional attracter is the average green leaves that turn purple with bronze tints during the wintertime . It ’s worthy for cultivation in Zones 4 - 8 .
3. Beethoven
Another democratic selection , ‘ Beethoven ’ produces pinkish - white flowers that are surrounded by pinkish or red sepals , and the leaf turn a recondite reddish colouration in the fall .
cover by British plant breeder Eric Smith , ‘ Beethoven ’ is a hybrid hybrid betweenB. stracheyiandB. crassifolia .
The plants form clusters , with each achieving a ripe height and cattle farm of 18 inch . ‘ Beethoven ’ is stout in Zones 4 - 9 .
4. Biedermeier
Another popular variety in the US , UK , and Germany , B. crassifolia‘Biedermeier ’ is an elephant ’s ear cultivar that was yield the Award of Garden Merit from the RHS in 2009 .
Its robust heads of big pallid pink peak have colored centers . Even better , the flush are produced sporadically through October as well as in the spring .
The leaves have a green tone all year , particularly at the margin . The plants grow 14 to 18 inches eminent and wide and are hardy in Zones 3 - 9 .
5. Bressingham Ruby
This cultivar was a 1984 unveiling from the British horticulturalists at Blooms of Bressingham ® – the breeding society of the famed Bressingham Gardens . It is a hybrid interbreeding betweenB. purpurascensandB. crassifolia .
Known for its alteration in folio color from green to deep red bolshy on top and blood-red - purpleness underneath , this cultivar bring home the bacon a spectacular wintertime show with leaf that are worthy for use in redolence .
The coloring material are the most intense when the plant are grown in full sun and/or under accent .
In addition , this cultivar produce deep pinkish flowers .
The plant form neat compact clumps that circulate 12 to 18 in , with a peak of one ft , and thrives in Zones 3 - 8 .
6. Bressingham White
If you have the abysmal problem of being tired of colorful flowers , or you simply opt white 1 , here is a cultivar for you .
As its name indicate , this case has white peak in the springtime , in increase to leaf that turns maroon in the fall .
These features , combined with its tendency to propagate slowly , have made it a favorite in the US , UK , and Germany .
The fabled British horticulturist Alan Bloom bredB. crassifolia‘Bressingham White , ’ and it was a recipient of the British Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit in 1993 .
‘ Bressingham White ’ also derive in as the secondly - most beloved cultivar in a poll of German perennial gardener at the end of January 2017 that wasreported in Floral Daily .
Why the fervour ? It seems to be the combining of plenteous racemes of pure white flowers that contrast with its recondite greenish leaf and are held in high spirits above them , before change in the tumble .
Another reason for its popularity is that ‘ Bressingham White ’ has been better for minuscule gardens and is more diminutive than other type . It grows 12 to 15 inches in high spirits and 18 inches wide , and grows in Zones 4 - 9 .
One potential job if you experience in a more northerly geographical zone is that this cultivar is only semi - evergreen , entail it can lose its leaves in inhuman weather .
7. Britten
This AGM winner from 2009 is known for its profuseness of flower . They open blank and turn pink as they age .
Like most varieties , ‘ Britten ’ flowers primarily in the spring , but plants will blossom sporadically through October as well . It spring up skilful in Zones 4 - 8 .
This is another intercrossed excerption bred by Eric Smith , usingB. stracheyias a seed parent .
The small parting are a shining green with tan allowance . leafage turns red in the winter . Plants reach a fledged height and scatter of 20 inches .
8. Claire Maxine
This 2009 AGM winner is primarily bonk for its mid - green , puckered leaf that gleam .
While this cultivar does produce deep pink flowers , they sometimes hide beneath the large folio .
B. crassifolia‘Claire Maxine ’ is another cultivar that can bloom periodically through October in accession to springtime bloom .
The plants grow up to 18 inches marvelous and wide at due date , and prosper in Zones 3 - 8 .
9. Eden’s Magic Giant
Another AGM achiever from 2009 , ‘ Eden ’s Magic Giant ’ features pink - blushed prime that front outwards , with frilly flower petal on promising red stem .
‘ Eden ’s Magic Giant , ’ as the name suggests , is a largeB.crassifoliahybrid cultivar that can grow up to three feet tall and extensive .
Its leaves are dark green and rose-cheeked red , and this shade becomes more marked during the winter . Hardy in Zones 5 - 8 .
10. Eric Smith
This cultivar was once widely grow in England but is presently less prominent , grant to horticulturalist David Marks .
It was breed by Eric Smith of Somerset , England , who also bred ‘ Beethoven ’ and ‘ Britten . ’ He gave it to take note author and horticulturalist Beth Chatto , who distinguish it after him .
This 2009 AGM victor is known for its leaves , with upper surfaces that change from green to bronze , and bottom that are benighted red .
The RHS refer to its winter folio colouration as “ outstanding , ” if the foliage is not damaged by big frost , and Cornell University list ‘ Eric Smith ’ as a recommended cultivar for home plate garden .
The works also produces violet - pink peak in the spring , but they are not bring forth in quantities as nifty as those of other cultivars , and they may be hidden under the leave-taking .
This cultivar grows 12 to 18 inches marvelous , with a spread of four to 18 in and is stalwart in Zones 3 - 8 .
11. Eroica
Also known as ‘ Overture , ’ thisB. crassifoliacultivar was awarded the honored AGM in 2009 , and it pull ahead the popularity poll among nearly 2,000 appendage of the Association of German Perennials in 2017 .
This cultivar has several positive attributes . Its leaves turn green - loss during cold weather , and it is consider one of the most reliable types of bergenia for its winter coloring material .
In improver , its purplish - red-faced flowers are unusually long - lasting and suitable for cut flowers . Even the stem are colored .
‘ Eroica ’ is also very resistant to icing , and is hardy in Zones 3 - 9 .
The plants grow 4 to 18 inches mellow , and propagate 18 to 36 inches wide .
12. Evening Glow
This unique and often recommended compactB. crassifoliacultivar was create by the striking German industrial plant breeder Georg Arends , who named it ‘ Abendglut . ’
The dwarf plant ’s large , rotund , dark greenish leave have discover red undersides , and become deep purple in the winter .
strange for bergenia , this cultivar produces semi - duple bass pinkish blossom . These are held aloft on red base , and plants make a superlative of just one foot . Hardy in Zones 3 - 9 .
13. Frau Holle
Another recipient of the Award of Garden Merit , B. crassifolia‘Mrs . Holle ’ looks noticeably dissimilar from most of the other cultivar .
Although they are cherry-red - flushed on the margins , the leaf are yellow - green . The flowers are very pale pink , but they have a rich pink blush in the core . The stems grow 18 to 36 inches tall at due date .
These works are highly resistant to hoarfrost , first-class candidates for cooler climates . Hardy in geographical zone 3 - 8 .
14. Irish Crimson
This unusualB. purpurascenscultivar has abstruse pinko , nod flowers .
They are held above the minute , upright leaves that have an intense scarlet colour during the winter .
The RHS grant its Award of Garden Merit to this cultivar in 2009 . ‘ Irish Crimson ’ attain a fledged pinnacle of 15 inches , with a 24 - inch spread . Hardy in zone 3 - 8 .
15. Morning Red
ThisB. crassifoliacultivar is also known as ‘ Morgenröte . ’ It made Cornell University ’s inclination of cultivars to grow , and was granted the RHS ’s Award of Garden Merit in 1993 .
Reaching a summit of 12 to 18 inch and a standardised bedcover , it has dreary unripened leaves . Its flowers are rosy red , and these are bear on red stem . ‘ sunup Red ’ thrives in Zones 4 - 9 .
16. Pink Dragonfly
A new motley acquaint by the German stock breeder Anne Eskuche , this highly popular miniature cultivar has attractive pink flowers and farsighted , narrow leave that turn a deep purplish red in the drop .
B. crassifolia‘Pink Dragonfly ’ grows in force in Zones 4 - 9 , and it is most efficient when used as an edging along a walkway or arise en masse . One benefit of growing this cultivar in warmer clime is that the leaves are more probable to be evergreen .
This is one of the types known as pigsqueak , because its leaves are outstandingly gristly , so they are potential to squeal like a hog when rubbed between your finger .
‘ Pink Dragonfly ’
The undimmed pink flower blossom from early on to late spring on 15 - inch stalks and attract butterflies , hummingbirds , and bee .
Plants can bepurchased from Nature Hills Nursery .
17. Pugsley’s Pink
An AGM recipient in 2009 and one of Cornell ’s recommended varieties , horticulture expert Beth Chatto has state thatBergenia‘Pugsley ’s Pink ’ provides a good demarcation to evergreen plant bush .
Its purple - garden pink flowers have a ruddy banding down the center .
The leaf are medium - sized and glistening green . And as is the display case with many attractive cultivar , they also become smart red over the winter .
‘ Pugsley ’s Pink ’ grow one and a one-half to three feet high , and can spread nearly three feet . This cultivar is stout in Zones 4 - 9 .
18. Purpurea
A popular cultivar ofB. crassifoliathat is also know as elephant ’s ears ‘ Purpurea , ’ many gardener are especially warm of the purple foliage , which can take on a deeper carmine - purpleness chromaticity in the winter .
This plant life also has bright Battle of Magenta - pink flowers , give rise in upright clustering on red stem that can grow up to three human foot tall .
This cultivar will do well in poor dirt , which enhance the leaf color . Hardy in Zones 3 - 8 .
19. Red Beauty
‘ Red Beauty ’ is anotherB. crassifoliacultivar ( also known as ‘ Rotblum ’ ) that aggregate attractive colorful parting in the downfall and wintertime with beautiful flowers bear in the outflow . It ’s hardy in Zones 4 - 9 .
Its deep pinkish - red bloom grow on red root , and the leaves start out mid - drear super acid before turning red .
The coloration of the leaves is enhance when the plants are get in pathetic character soil .
‘ Red mantrap ’
you could discover source for this cultivarfrom Hazzard ’s Seeds via Amazon .
20. Rose Zeiten
This 2009 RHS Award of Garden Merit winner has far-famed foliage that is bronze - dark-green .
Its pink blossom are blushed with red , and this is anotherB. crassifoliacultivar that can bloom sporadically from the late wintertime through April .
This cultivar fan out pronto and has a mature height of 18 inches with a spread of 18 to 36 inches . ‘ Rose Zeiten ’ is hardy in Zones 3 - 8 .
21. Silverlight
Georg Arends bred this cultivar in 1950 , and named it ‘ Silberlicht . ’ It ’s a cross betweenB. ciliataandB. emiensis .
It grows one to one and a half human foot wide and high with great , unripened , leathery , oval - shaped leaves that are toothed at the margins .
Stems tinct with red produce clusters of white blossom from too soon to mid spring . These blossom typically turn light pink as they get on , and the calyces can be bright red .
‘ Silverlight ’ was awarded the AGM in 1993 , and it is recommend by Cornell University . Hardy in Zones 5 - 8 .
22. Sunningdale
An AGM awardee from 2009,B. crassifolia‘Sunningdale ’ is known for its large green leaf that loaded bolshie in the summer , and turn copper - red during the winter .
Its mysterious pink , bell - mold flowers are also appeal . Plants attain mature dimensions of 18 inches tall and spacious , and are intrepid in Zones 3 - 8 .
23. Wilton
A cultivar ofB. ciliata , a coinage that is native to the Himalayas , what is unusual about this plant is its large hairy leaves .
These leaves start up out green and may bend red in the autumn , though growing in the shade is recommended by some gardener , to prevent sunscorch . The foliage may fall off in cold weather .
The pale or medium pink flowers are pretty , too . They come forth on little stem in the spring . Hardy in Zones 3 - 8 .
24. Winterglow
This cultivar ofB. crassifoliais also known as ‘ Winterglut , ’ or ‘ Vinterglöd . ’
This variety will fly high in Zones 3 to 9 . However , unlike most other types , it grows slowly and does not propagate widely .
‘ Winterglow ’ also has large , thick , gristly leave that make the sound of a pig squeaking when you rub them between your finger .
The leaves start out glossy and dark greenish in the springiness and turn burgundy in the fall . With its strong freeze leeway , this cultivar keep its beauty year around .
The foliage will last through the winter . But you may need to mulch it or cover the plant with snow during cold spells .
This cultivar , with its appeal bright magenta - pink flowers on black red stalks up to 18 inches in height , is popular in both the US and the UK .
‘ Winterglow ’
While bergenia plants always bloom in the late wintertime or saltation , this one also frequently produces a 2d , smaller flush of flower in the nightfall . It also supplies pollen to bee and other pollinators .
plant areavailable from Nature Hills Nursery .
25. Wintermärchen
Another AGM awardee from 2009 , thisB purpurascenscultivar is little than most . Also known as ‘ Winter Fairy Tale , ’ it grows 12 to 15 inches high with an 18 - in spreading .
Its polished fleeceable leaves are distinct in their perpendicular growth , and they move around scarlet in the fall and winter . livid flowers tinged with pinkish grow on reddish stems in the late natural spring .
This cultivar will stomach a mountain chain of soil conditions in both partial shade or full sunshine , and is suitable for refinement in Zones 3 - 9 .
No Shortage of Wonderful Easy-Care Varieties
Though this list is but a little sample distribution of the wonders that await in growingBergenia , you ’re sure to find a favorite among these popular varieties .
Some gardeners turn these plant life primarily for their foliage , while others are entrance by their flowers . And some multitude grow them because they crowd out weeds too !
You really ca n’t turn a loss with this easy - care genus of perennial . And if you live in Zone 1 or zone 10 - 11 , you may have some success growing them indoors in containers instead of outside .
And tolearn more about farm bergeniain your garden , check out these guides next :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . ware photograph via Hazzard ’s Seeds and Nature Hills Nursery . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock . With extra composition and redaction by Clare Groom and Allison Sidhu .
About
Helga George , PhD
