Top Ten Bergenias

These hardy weed-suppressing plants provide flower and foliage colour in one valuable ground-covering perennial

- Graham Rice

SOMETIMES, ‘ground cover’ sounds rather dull. It seems to describe a plant that is effective and functional, but has little else going for it. It covers the ground, smothering and suppressing weeds – end of story. Not with bergenias, oh no.

These plants are among our most valuable hardy perennials. Combining bold, usually evergreen foliage, for which the common name of ‘elephant’s ears’ is, for once, very apt with prolific spring flowers, bergenias would be worth growing if they suppressed no weeds at all!

Bergenias for flowers
Bergenia flowers are like small bells, about ¾in (2cm) across, clustered at the tops of the rather fleshy stems in spring and early summer. In some, the dark bud scales create an attractive contrast with the petals.

Reaching from about 8-20in (20-50cm) in height, the flowers vary from pure-white, through blushed tones, to pinks, and to richer reddish and purple shades. Morning frosts may cause the stems to droop, but they usually stand up by midday.

Bergenias for foliage
The bold, slightly wrinkled, broadly rounded, rather leathery leaves are rich and shining green in summer, but in winter many develop impressive colouring, from deep bronzed-red or purple through to more vivid reds or, perhaps, the upper leaf surfaces green and the undersides richly coloured. There are also one or two variegated varieties. The very best bergenia varieties combine good winter foliage with colourful spring flowers.

6 award-winning bergenias