Berginias in a garden planting.

Some may feel that Berginias, the large coarse ‘elephant ears’ of old are rather dull and boring. But with many new finer leaved varieties and  in a range of flower colours and some with leaves that turn from emerald to dusky purple in the winter. They are now a garden plant to be reckoned with and deserve their place as the evergreen edge to a boarder.

Berginia ‘Bressingham Salmon’

B. ‘Bressingham Salmon’: Emerald rounded leaves up to 25cm tall with soft salmon flowers on stems above the leaves, May to June humus rich soil in sun to semi-shade.

Bergenia cordifolia ‘Purpurea’

B. corifolia ‘Purpurea’: Large fleshy leaves to 40cm tall that turn a dark burgundy with winter cold. Striking carmine purple flowers April to May, humus rich soil sun to partial shade.

Bergenia cassifolia ‘Schmidtii’

B. cassiflora ‘Schmidtii: Evergreen 30cm tall with neat round mid green shiny leaves. Clear light pink flowers on stems rising above the flowers March to April. Humus rich soil in sun or semi-shade.

Berginia ‘Sliverlight’

B. ‘Sliver Light’: Rich evergreen round leaves clumps up to 30cm tall, with white flowers from April to May. Humus rich soil in sun to semi-shade.

B. abendglut ‘Sunningdale’

B. abendglut ‘Sunningdale’: 30cm tall evergreen with dark green red leaves. With pink to red flowers. April to June. Humus rich soil sun semi-shade.

Bergina abendglut ‘Evening glow’

B. abendglut ‘Evening Glow’: Rich green to maroon red leaves giving winter impact up to 30cm tall. Dark purple flowers on red tinged stems. Flowers April to June. Sun of semi-shade and humus rich .

These plants can define the edge and act as a green foil to other more exuberant planting but with the rich leaf colour change on some varieties in the winter and striking flowers they to can have their moment in the spot light. I hope I have inspired you to take a look at these often over looked garden plants.