Let’s hear it for elephant’s ears!
Fab blooms guaranteed to survive frost – no wonder bergenias are back in vogue
THEY have handsome evergreen foliage and gorgeous spring flowers; they need little maintenance and are virtually indestructible; and they are architectural, hardy and versatile. That pretty much sums up bergenias. Being blessed with such qualities should make these perennials highly desirable, but they are often overlooked because of a deeprooted image problem.
I reckon their impressive attributes have actually led to their ill fortune. Landscape architects have long advocated bergenias as weed-suppressing ground cover around supermarket car parks, office developments and other commercial landscapes, turning these fabulous plants into ones that are seen as dull, boring and unfashionable.
Unfortunately their common name has done little to help change attitudes. ‘Elephant’s ears’ hardly conjures up a vision of beauty and was clearly given by someone with little admiration for bergenias – it suggests a plant with oversized, plain leaves that have little in the way of ornamental value.
Not that it was always this way. Christopher Lloyd, Margery Fish, William Robinson and a host of other gardening greats were admirers.
As a fan of these wonderful plants, I’m happy to report that they are enjoying a renaissance. Modern garden designers wax lyrical about them, and increasing demand has led to the introduction of many new varieties.
These clump-forming, largely evergreen perennials are native to countries such as China and Russia. They are used to fairly inhospitable conditions, making them capable of surviving very low temperatures.
Clusters of white, pink, red and purple bell-shaped flowers are carried on 12in-24in stems from late winter until early summer, depending on variety. Their green, glossy leaves look attractive all year round, with some turning vivid shades of bronze, red or purple in winter. Named in honour of German botanist Karl von Bergen, the first bergenia arrived on our shores in 1765. Discovered in a mountainous part of Siberia, Bergenia crassifolia makes a clump of spoon-shaped, rubbery green leaves topped by short spikes of pink flowers. It found our climate to its liking and is now naturalised here, especially in parts of the south.
Bergenia cordifolia appeared a decade later, followed by more wild plants. Enthusiasts set about crossing these species, leading to the introduction of many named varieties late in the 19th Century.
Breeding stepped up a gear during the 20th Century with Norfolk-based nurseryman Alan Bloom leading the way. His creations have stood the test of time with Bergenia ‘Bressing- ham White’ widely considered the best variety for flowers, producing a succession of stems clothed with pure white blooms in April and May.
Today there are close to 200 different bergenias available. Bergenia ‘Eric Smith’ has large, crinkled leaves and dark pink flowers, while ‘Silberlicht’ is an old variety with pale pink blooms. ‘Pink Dragonfly’ is a relatively new, compact form at its best in spring, but will continue with extra flushes of flowers until midsummer.
BERGENIA ‘ Abendglocken’, Bergenia crassifolia ‘ Autumn Red’, ‘Beethoven’ and ‘Morgenröte’ all have exceptional winter foliage. Legendary plantswoman Beth Chatto once told me that one of her favourites for leaf colour was Bergenia ‘Mrs Crawford’ whose green leaves take on plum tones before white flowers appear.
Bergenias aren’t fussy about tthe kind of soil they grow in. Winter foliage colour tends to be more impressive in poor ground, while fresh spring foliage and flowers appreciate damper, fertile soil. They’re happy in sun or partial shade. Just avoid really dark spots. They are great in woodland gardens, mixed beds, borders, rock gardens and gravel gardens. Ones that colour up well make ideal planting partners for other early beauties, such as snowdrops, hellebores, crocus and daffodils. They also look good with grasses, heucheras and ferns.
Looking after bergenias is easy. Cut back flower stalks when they start to fade and remove tatty leaves in spring. Lift and divide congested plants every few years.