Description
Bergenia – Megasea – Elephant’s Ears – Pigsquek –
There are about 8 species and many hybrids, of loose clump forming, rhizomatous, semi evergreen perennials, in this genus. They occur from meadows, rocky moorland, and moist woodland in Central and Eastern Asia. They have tough, thick rhizomes and distinctive rosettes of alternate, simple, smooth edged or toothed, obovate or oblong to broadly ovate to paddle shaped, leathery, glossy leaves, many coloring well in winter. Panicle like cymes of shallowly funnel shaped to bell shaped, 5 petalled flowers, usually ½-1″ across, on short, branched, often red or purple flower stems, are borne mainly in winter and spring. Grow in a woodland garden or border, or as a groundcover and rockery plants
Grow in humus rich, moist but well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Most dislike extremes of heat and drought, but will tolerate exposure and poor soil, which enhances their winter leaf color. Divide every 3-5 years in autumn or spring after flowering. Remove spent flowerheads to prolong flowering.
Prone to fungal leaf spots, rhizome rot, weevils, caterpillars, foliar nematode, slug and snails.
B. x schmidtii – This vigorous perennial is a cross between B. ciliata and B. crassifolia grows 12″ tall and 24″ wide. It produces broadly obovate to obovate-elliptic, dull green leaves, to 10″ long, narrowed at the base, with toothed edges, very sparsely fringed with hairs, and long leaf stalks. In late winter and early spring it bears dense panicle like cymes of rose pink flowers, nodding at first, then horizontal to erect. Often flowers sporadically at other times.
Zones 4-8
