Shade Garden Ideas

Because of its bold evergreen foliage, its toughness, and its ability to grow happily in almost any exposure, even deep shade, bergenia is a basic plant for the shade garden. Its most common uses are as drifts of ground cover for small to medium-sized areas, as a rock garden subject, as edging, and as a clumping accent in any shaded area.

Its 3/4-inch spring flowers, white to rose-pink, appear in tight, nosegay like clusters atop stems 6 to 12 inches above foliage

The leaves, 12 to 16 inches high and up to 10 inches wide (cabbage-like or water lily-like), create useful contrasts with smaller-textured ground covers, taller bedding plants, and shrubs. They are wavy-edged and more or less heart-shaped at the base.

Any but very light soils suit this adaptable plant, although excessively moist, fertile soil necessitates frequent division. It is quite drought-tolerant once established. Fair to good drainage, some shade, and protection from heavy winds are the only requirements for situating it properly. Space plants 10 to 18 inches apart. It is unsuited to desert climates.

In most respects bergenia can be neglected with impunity, although it needs protection from snails and slugs, which it harbors. If clumps become crowded or rhizomes leggy, divide them in the fall or early spring.
‘Perfecta’, a new horticultural variety, is tall and robust. It produces rosy red flowers on strong stems. The foliage of B. c. purpurea changes color dramatically in the fall, to purple with crimson highlights.

B. crassifolia (Winter-Blooming Bergenia) grows slightly taller than B. cordifolia, to around 20 inches. Leaves are slightly smaller, and in the autumn they color more vividly. Lilac, reddish pink, or purple flowers appear in dense clusters in January and February.