Bergenia

The glossy green leaves of bergenia look outstanding all year long. In fall they take on a magnificent reddish-bronze hue. The thick, leathery foliage squeaks when rubbed between your fingers, giving this plant the other common name of pigsqueak.

The pink, rose, or white blooms that appear on sturdy stalks in spring are just a bonus compared to the usefulness of the foliage. Not surprisingly, this is often used as groundcover. In cold regions, the semievergreen leaves are often damaged by spring frosts and can take much of the spring to recover.

Light:

Sun,Part Sun

Zones:

4-10

Plant Type:

Perennial

Plant Height:

6-18 inches tall

Plant Width:

10-15 inches wide

Landscape Uses:

Containers,Beds & Borders,Groundcover

Special Features:

Flowers,Attractive Foliage,Fall Color,Winter Interest,Deer Resistant

Top Varieties

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'Apple Blossom' bergenia

Bergenia cordifolia 'Apple Blossom' features large pale pink flowers on red stems that rise above glossy green leaves.
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'Bressingham White' bergenia

Bergenia cordifolia 'Bressingham White' has flowers that open pink but age to white. Fall foliage is burgundy.
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'Winterglut' bergenia

Bergenia cordifolia 'Winterglut' has reddish-pink flowers in spring and dark green leaves that turn rich mottled red and orange in fall.
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Garden Plans

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Four Gorgeous Bulb and Perennial Gardens
Spring Rock Garden
Summer Rock Garden
Spring Shade Border

Plant It With

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Perennial geranium

Geranium makes a wonderful companion for bergenia in partial shade. Its lavender-blue to magenta flowers pick up on colors in bergenia.

Lady's mantle

Mounds of chartreuse blooms on bluish-green foliage make lady's mantle a great partner for bergenia.

Lungwort

The silver-splashed leaves of lungwort team well with glossy green bergenia. Its flower color range is similar to that of bergenia, too.

Propagation

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Division