Bergenias

It must seem funny having pictures of huge flower heads in the foliage plants pages, but this is exactly where Bergenias belong. For most of the year they are the perfect foliage plant. Their huge flowers mid-spring are a wonderful bonus.

 This form has coloured leaves in autumn.
White Flowering Bergenia

Some of my bergenias give red leaf colour in Autumn. They then need a quick winter clean-up, and maybe a split-up. In the middle of spring their thick flower stems reach ever upwards.

 I think some people call this plant Elephants' Ears...
Bergenia Foliage

I'm sure that the pink flowering Bergenia is the common garden variety. I've heard that fastidious gardeners cut off the flowers, finding the colour not acceptable...

A Bressingham Bergenia!

The white-flowering Bergenia is a Blooms of Bressingham Nursery variety, and I also grow a deep pink which I'm sure is also from the same breeder in England. In my pre-Moosey days I personally visited this famous nursery!

 Pretty pink - why do some gardeners hate the flowers?
Basic Pink Bergenia

The worst disaster that befalls my Bergenias is a galloping dog - torn leaves are not a pretty sight - thanks, Taj-dog! I wonder about snails though - thankfully the Moosey Garden is snail-free.