Bergenia Rotblum

Description

Bergenia ‘Rotblum’ – elephant’s ears

Botanical name: Bergenia ‘Rotblum’
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. 30–40cm tall × 40cm spread
Foliage: Glossy, leathery rounded green leaves turning rich red in winter; evergreen
Flowers: Sprays of deep red bell-shaped flowers on dark 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 ‘Rotblum’ is a richly coloured evergreen with deep red spring flowers and glossy leaves that turn rich red in winter. Superb, tough groundcover with excellent winter colour.

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

‘Rotblum’ is a fine red bergenia, its glossy leaves colouring richly in winter and its deep red flowers appearing in spring. As with all the red-flushing bergenias, give it full sun and poorer soil for the strongest winter leaf colour, and enjoy tough, evergreen, weed-smothering groundcover that looks good every month of the year.

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