View source for Bergenia

{{SPlantbox
|familia=Saxifragaceae
|genus=Bergenia
|common_name=Pigsqueak, elephant's ears, large rockfoil
|name_ref=Wikipedia
|habit=herbaceous
|lifespan=perennial
|exposure=sun, part-sun, shade
|features=flowers, drought tolerant, ground cover
|flower_season=early spring, mid spring, late spring, late winter
|flowers=red, purple, pink, white
|Temp Metric=°F
|image=Bergenia_stracheyi0.jpg
|image_width=240
|image_caption=''Bergenia stracheyi''
}}
Evergreen groundcover, long living and easy to propagate.

'''Bergenia''' ({{IPAc-en|icon|b|ər|ˈ|ɡ|ɛ|n|i|ə}})<ref>''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607</ref> is a [[genus]] of ten species of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Saxifragaceae]], native to central [[Asia]], from [[Afghanistan]] to [[China]] and the [[Himalaya]]n region. They are evergreen [[perennial plant]]s with a spirally arranged rosette of leaves 6–35 cm long and 4–15 cm broad, and pink [[flower]]s produced in a [[Cyme (botany)|cyme]].

The leaves are leathery, look like a heart, and often have wavy or saw-toothed edges. For most of the year, the leaves have a glossy green colour, but in cooler climates, they turn red or bronze in the fall.  The flowers grow on a stem similar in colour to a [[rhubarb]] stalk and most varieties have cone-shaped flowers in varying shades of pink.  These can range from almost white to ruby red and purple.<ref name=tgh>{{cite web | title=Guide to Growing Bergenia Plants | url=http://www.thegardenhelper.com/bergenia.html | date= | work= | publisher=The Garden Helper |accessdate=2009-06-30}}</ref>

The common names for ''Bergenia'' are pigsqueak (due to the sound produced when two leaves are rubbed together), elephant's ears (due to the shape of the leaves) and large rockfoil.

''Bergenia'' is closely related to ''Mukdenia'', ''Oresitrophe Astilboides'' and ''Rodgersia''.
 
==Cultivation==
{{monthbox
| color = IndianRed
| name = Bergenia
| jan =
| feb = flowering
| mar = flowering
| apr = flowering
| may = flowering
| jun =
| jul =
| aug =
| sep =
| oct = divide
| nov = divide
| dec =
| notes =
}} 
Bergenia are hardy plants that can grow in climates with extreme temperature ranges from about {{convert|-35|F|C|abbr=on}} to {{convert|115|F|C|abbr=on}}.  They prefer sun but will grow in shady areas as well.  Plants can grow to about {{convert|24|in|cm|abbr=on}} tall and {{convert|24|in|cm|abbr=on}} wide.  They do well in most soils, but moist, humus-rich soil is preferable.  Dry soils tend to stunt growth.  Plants can be planted in the spring or fall. In areas with cold, strong winter winds, protection from the wind may be required.<ref name=tgh/>

===Propagation===
Seed in spring, division in spring or fall (every five years will rejuvenate plants).

===Pests and diseases===
[[Slugs]] and [[snails]].  Fungus may cause leaf spots. Bergenia are robust plants and generally free of problems, although [[vine weevil]] adults readily eat the edges of the leaves, resulting in an indented, 'notched' outline which can detract from the appearance of the plant.

==Varieties==
Species:
* ''[[Bergenia ciliata]]'', including the cultivar ''Bergenia ciliata'' 'Superba'
* ''[[Bergenia cordifolia]]'' is the most widely grown garden plant, especially the cultivar ''Bergenia cordifolia'' 'Purpurea.'  The species epithet ''cordifolia'' means: heart-shaped leaf.  The leaves are winter hardy and change color in the range of rust brown to brown-red.  Other cultivars are ''Bergenia cordifolia'' 'Winterglut' and ''Bergenia cordifolia'' 'Senior.'
* ''[[Bergenia crassifolia]]'' is about 12 inches tall.  The leaves are spoon-shaped.  One cultivar is ''Bergenia crassifolia'' 'Autumn Red.'
* ''[[Bergenia emeiensis]]''
* ''[[Bergenia ligulata]]''
* ''[[Bergenia pacumbis]]''
* ''[[Bergenia purpurascens]]'' is 12-16 inches tall and has carmine-red flowers.  The leaves are oval-shaped.
**''Bergenia purpurascens'' var. ''delavayi'' is ca. 20 inches tall with small leaves and rosy red flowers.
* ''[[Bergenia scopulosa]]''
* ''[[Bergenia stracheyi]]'' with the cultivars ''Bergenia stracheyi'' 'Alba' and ''Bergenia stracheyi'' 'Afghanica'
* ''[[Bergenia tianquanensis]]''

Cultivars:
''Bergenia crassifolia'', ''Bergenia cordifolia'', and various hybrids are often grown in gardens, with several [[cultivars]] selected.

Available in the garden trade are:
*''Bergenia'' 'Abendglocken'
*''Bergenia'' 'Abendglut'
*''Bergenia'' 'Admiral'	
*''Bergenia'' 'Bach'
[[File:Bergenia 'Bressingham White'.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Bergenia'' 'Bressingham White']]
*''Bergenia'' 'Baby Doll' 	
*''Bergenia'' 'Ballawley' 	
*''Bergenia'' 'Beethoven'
*''Bergenia'' 'Biedermeier'
*''Bergenia'' 'Blickfang'
*''Bergenia'' 'Brahms'
*''Bergenia'' 'Bressingham Beauty'
*''Bergenia'' 'Bressingham Bountiful'
*''Bergenia'' 'Bressingham Ruby'
*''Bergenia'' 'Bressingham Salmon' 	
*''Bergenia'' 'Bressingham White' 	
*''Bergenia'' 'Britten'
*''Bergenia'' 'David'
*''Bergenia'' 'Doppelgänger'
*''Bergenia'' 'Eric Smith'
*''Bergenia'' 'Eroica'
*''Bergenia'' 'Glockenturm'
*''Bergenia'' 'Goldfisch'
*''Bergenia'' 'Herbstblüte'
*''Bergenia'' 'Illusion'
*''Bergenia'' 'Margery Fish'
*''Bergenia'' 'Morgenröte'
[[File:Bergenia cordifolia 'Purpurea'.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Close up of ''Bergenia Cordifolia Purpurea'' flowering spike, usually seen in Spring]]
*''Bergenia'' 'Oeschberg'
*''Bergenia'' 'Ouverture'
*''Bergenia'' 'Perfect'
*''Bergenia'' 'Pink Dragonfly'
*''Bergenia'' 'Pinneberg'
*''Bergenia'' 'Profusion'
*''Bergenia'' 'Purpurea'
*''Bergenia'' 'Purpurglocken'
*''Bergenia'' 'Purpurkönigin'
*''Bergenia'' 'Red Star'
*''Bergenia'' 'Rosa Zeiten'
*''Bergenia'' 'Rosette'
*''Bergenia'' 'Rosi Klose'
*''Bergenia'' 'Rotblum'
*''Bergenia'' 'Rote Schwester'
*''Bergenia'' 'Schneeglocke'
*''Bergenia'' 'Schneekönigin'
*''Bergenia'' 'Silberlicht'
*''Bergenia'' 'Summer Mountain'
*''Bergenia'' 'Sunningdale'
*''Bergenia'' 'Walter Kienli'
*''Bergenia'' 'Wintergold'
*''Bergenia'' 'Wintermärchen'
*''Bergenia'' 'Winterzauber'
*''Bergenia'' 'Yellow Medley'

==Gallery==
<!-- For plants with a lot of photos - a gallery can be added below, otherwise remove this section!  -->

<gallery>
Image:Bergenia-x-schmidtii-IMG_7221_sfbg0308.jpg|Bergenia x schmidtii
Image:Bergenia-x-schmidtii-IMG_7222_sfbg0308.jpg|Bergenia x schmidtii
</gallery>

==References==
*{{wplink}}
<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881926248  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->

==External links==

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