Bergenia cordifolia

Description

Bergenia cordifolia – elephant’s ears

Botanical name: Bergenia cordifolia
Common names: Bergenia, elephant’s ears
Family: Saxifragaceae
Plant type: Evergreen perennial
Habit: Low, clump-forming, spreading
Pot size: 2–3 litre pot
Eventual size: Approx. 45–60cm tall × 60cm spread
Foliage: Very large, glossy, leathery, heart-shaped green leaves flushing rich purple-bronze in winter; evergreen
Flowers: Sprays of deep pink bell-shaped flowers on stout red stems in spring (March–May)
Scent: Not notably scented
Aspect / light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Most soils; well-drained; tolerates poor and dry soil once established; any pH
Hardiness: RHS H7 (very hardy, below −20°C); USDA zones 3–8
Exposure: Sheltered or exposed; very tolerant
Native range: Garden form; the genus is native to central and eastern Asia
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Generally considered non-toxic to people and pets

Bergenia cordifolia, elephant’s ears, is a bold evergreen with huge glossy heart-shaped leaves that flush purple-bronze in winter, and deep pink spring flowers. Superb, tough, year-round groundcover.

GardenAdvice notes

Aptly nicknamed ‘elephant’s ears’, bergenia is one of the toughest and most useful of all evergreen perennials, grown for its large, glossy, leathery rounded leaves, which form weed-suppressing groundcover all year, and its early sprays of bell-shaped flowers held on stout stems in spring. Many forms take on rich red and bronze leaf tints in winter, giving valuable cold-season colour. Exceptionally hardy and adaptable, it thrives almost anywhere.

Growing & planting

Plant in spring or autumn in most soils in full sun to partial shade — it is remarkably tolerant, coping with sun or shade, poor and dry soils once established, and exposure. The winter leaf colour is usually strongest in sun and in poorer soil. Space about 40cm apart for groundcover. Water while establishing.

Care & maintenance

Very low-maintenance. Remove tatty or damaged leaves and the spent flower stems to keep it looking fresh. It is evergreen, so needs no cutting back. Water in prolonged drought while young. Lift and divide congested clumps after flowering or in autumn — this is also how to propagate it and keep it vigorous.

Propagation

• Division: Lift and divide the rhizomes after flowering or in autumn — quick and easy.

Pests & diseases

Generally trouble-free and extremely tough. Vine weevil (grubs at the roots, notches in the leaves) and slugs or snails can occasionally affect it. Otherwise one of the most reliable, resilient plants you can grow.

Uses in the garden

Superb as evergreen, weed-suppressing groundcover, for edging paths and borders, at the front of beds, under shrubs, on banks and in difficult dry or shady spots, where its bold foliage gives year-round structure and its early flowers and winter leaf colour are a bonus.

Wildlife value

The early spring flowers are a valuable source of nectar for bees and other pollinators emerging early in the year.

Toxicity & safety

Bergenia is generally regarded as non-toxic to people and pets.

GardenAdvice tip

The classic elephant’s ears, Bergenia cordifolia has the biggest, boldest leaves of the group — huge glossy hearts that turn rich purple-bronze through winter, giving marvellous cold-season colour — topped by deep pink flowers in spring. It’s one of the toughest plants going; give it a sunny spot and poorer soil for the best winter leaf colour, and enjoy fuss-free, weed-smothering evergreen cover.

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