PICK OF THE VERY BEST: BERGENIAS
Its bold leaves and warming flowers look great in winter
BERGENIAS make two entirely different, but equally valuable, contributions to our gardens. The vast majority are evergreen, and their bold foliage is often richly coloured, especially in winter when its presence is so valuable. Then, in spring, there are sprays of vivid flowers.
Spreading steadily at (or just below) the soil’s surface, woody rhizomes branch occasionally to form clumps – sometimes rather loose, sometimes tight and crowded. It is at the growing tips of the rhizomes that the foliage develops.
The leaves are unashamedly bold: leathery, rich green, often glossy, they reach up to 14in (36cm) across. Their size and shape – though not the colour – explain why they’re known as elephant’s ears. They may be slightly pleated, with gently rounded lobes. However, it’s their winter colouring that is so attractive.
As the days shorten and temperatures drop, the backs – or, in the best of them, both sides – of the leaves turn red. In some, this is a deep blood red, almost bronze; in others, it’s more of a vivid beetroot shade. The colouring can be genuinely dramatic, especially when plants are partnered with winter and spring bulbs.
The flowers are also impressive. Usually held just above the leaves, these
1∕2in (1.3cm) five-lobed bells are carried in branched clusters from about March to May. Flowering time varies, and there are often a few late blooms. In colour, they range from deep and shining pink, through various cerise and paler pink shades, to blushed and pure white.
In some the stems are pink, adding to the overall effect.
In most bergenias, the winter foliage is hardier than the spring flowers, so while the evergreen leaves will shelter emerging blooms from frost and destructive early morning sun, once the flowers outstrip the foliage they can be vulnerable. As with so many early flowers, providing protection from the quick thaw prompted by early sun is vital. An evergreen shrub such as a skimmia, daphne or sarcococca will do the trick.
Aside from their winter and spring beauty, bergenias have practical uses, too. They are highly effective as weedsmothering ground cover – but here there’s a balance to strike. Those with the most dense growth make the most effective cover. However, their crowded foliage means there is no point planting spring bulbs amongst them – they don’t discriminate, and the bulbs will be smothered as effectively as weeds.
A much better strategy is to treat them less as weed suppressors and more as planting partners. That way, you’ll open up a world of attractive early-season combinations.