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Bergenia cordifolia 'Purpurea'

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Characteristics

Plant type

Herbaceous Perennial

Habit

Spreading / Branched

Resilience

Hardiness

old H4 (hardy)

Colour

Flower

Dark Pink in Spring

Foliage

Dark Purple in Winter
Green in Autumn, Spring and Summer

Stem

Red in Spring

Size

Ultimate height

0.1-0.5 metres

Ultimate spread

0.5-1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2-5 years

Preferred common name

elephant ear 'Purpurea'

Family

Saxifragaceae

Bergenia are evergreen rhizomatous perennials with leathery, rounded leaves and dense, erect clusters of bell-shaped pink or white flowers in spring

'Purpurea' is a perennial forming a clump of large, rounded deep green leaves, purplish in winter. Bright magenta-pink flowers in erect clusters on red stems to 50cm in height

Suppliers

Suppliers listed in RHS Plant Finder

How to grow

Sunlight

Full sun
Part shade

Aspect

South-facing, East-facing, West-facing or North-facing

Exposed or Sheltered

Cultivation

Best grown in moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil in sun or partial shade. Dislikes hot, dry conditions but tolerates poor soil and exposed sites.

Soil

Moist but well-drained

Acid, Alkaline or Neutral

Loam, Chalk, Sand or Clay

Propagation

Propagate by division or root rhizomes sections in autumn or spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage/Informal Garden, Flower borders and beds, Ground Cover, Banks and Slopes, City/Courtyard Gardens, Low Maintenance, Underplanting of Roses and Shrubs or Coastal

How to care

Pruning

Remove faded flower spikes

Pests

Foliage may be eaten by slugs, snails, vine weevil and caterpillars

Diseases

May be affected by a leaf spot

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