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{{Plantbox
{{SPlantbox
| name = ''Bergenia''
|familia=Saxifragaceae
| common_names = Elephant's ears
|genus=Bergenia
| growth_habit = herbaceous
|habit=herbaceous
|lifespan=perennial
|exposure=sun, part-sun, shade
|Temp Metric=°F
|image=Bergenia_stracheyi0.jpg
| lifespan = perennial
|image_width=240
| exposure = full sun to shade
|image_caption=''Bergenia stracheyi''
| usda_zones = <!--- eg. 8-11 -->
| image = Bergenia_stracheyi0.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Bergenia stracheyi''
}}
}}
<!--- GENERAL genus/plant description goes here -->
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==
==Cultivation==
| notes =
| 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===
===Propagation===
===Pests and diseases===
===Pests and diseases===
[[Slugs]] and [[snails]]. Fungus may cause leaf spots.
[[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 cordata'' is often grown in gardens, with several [[cultivars]] selected.
''Bergenia crassifolia'', ''Bergenia cordifolia'', and various hybrids are often grown in gardens, with several [[cultivars]] selected.
*''[[Bergenia ciliata]]''
Available in the garden trade are:
*''[[Bergenia cordifolia]]''
*''Bergenia'' 'Abendglocken'
*''[[Bergenia crassifolia]]''
*''Bergenia'' 'Abendglut'
*''[[Bergenia emeiensis]]''
*''Bergenia'' 'Admiral'
*''[[Bergenia ligulata]]''
*''Bergenia'' 'Bach'
*''[[Bergenia pacumbis]]''
[[File:Bergenia 'Bressingham White'.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Bergenia'' 'Bressingham White']]
*''[[Bergenia purpurascens]]''
*''Bergenia'' 'Baby Doll'
*''[[Bergenia rotblum]]''
*''Bergenia'' 'Ballawley'
*''[[Bergenia scopulosa]]''
*''Bergenia'' 'Beethoven'
*''[[Bergenia stracheyi]]''
*''Bergenia'' 'Biedermeier'
*''[[Bergenia tianquanensis]]''
*''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==
==Gallery==
