Beginning with bergenias
Ruth takes some cuttings from her neglected ‘bin plants’
I’VE never given much thought to our little clump of bergenias, mainly because they are bizarrely planted between some paving stones behind where we keep the bins.
But they caught my attention this week when I decided it was time to cut back the overgrown winter jasmine that also grows behind the bins (see P9).
Bergenias, also called elephant ears because of their large leaves, are tough, easy-going plants that produce bellshaped flowers in white and shades of pink on sturdy stems.
As I moved the bins to get at the jasmine I dislodged a piece of bergenia stem that had a few roots attached, which I have now potted up.
New shoots were also growing at the base of another plant, so I carefully cut two pieces to use as cuttings. They was difficult to take as most of the plants are growing from under the paving stones, but hopefully I have enough top growth, rhizome and roots to make cuttings.
Spring and autumn are peak times for taking cuttings, so hopefully my pieces of plant will grow and flourish and be planted out in autumn or next spring.