Bergenia 'Bressingham Bountiful' (Saxifrage) — Mat-forming, spreading by surface rhizomes

Overview

Bergenia 'Bressingham Bountiful' is a mat-forming, spreading by surface rhizomes perennial in the genus Bergenia, part of the Saxifragaceae family, with evergreen; broad, leathery, rounded, often flushing red or bronze in winter foliage. Bergenia 'Bressingham Bountiful' grows best in full sun to full shade; winter leaf colour is strongest in sun, and tolerates any reasonable soil and including poor and stony ground soils and acid and neutral or alkaline pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H6-H7. Suggested uses include groundcover, borders, rock gardens and shade gardens.

About

Bergenia 'Bressingham Bountiful' is a mat-forming perennial that spreads by surface rhizomes and forms a carpet of broad, leathery leaves. The foliage is evergreen and often flushes red or bronze through the winter, with the strongest colour where plants get sun. It sends up spring flower stems, flowering from March to May. It tolerates a wide range of soils and aspects, including poor or stony ground.

About the genus

Bergenia is a genus of ten species of flowering plants in the family Saxifragaceae, native to central Asia, from Afghanistan to China and the Himalayan region.

Wikipedia contributors, "Bergenia", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Bergenia

In the garden

Bergenia 'Bressingham Bountiful' is a mat-forming, evergreen perennial that spreads by surface rhizomes to make a low, spreading ground cover. The leaves are broad and leathery and frequently flush red or bronze in cold months; this winter colour is most pronounced in sunnier positions. Flower stems rise above the foliage and appear in spring, flowering from March to May. Sit it in full sun to full shade and expect it to handle any aspect or exposure, whether sheltered or exposed. It prefers moist but well drained conditions yet will tolerate dry shade once established. Soil type is flexible — this plant will grow in reasonable, poor or stony soils and accepts acid, neutral or alkaline pH. Hardiness is H6–H7, meaning it is very hardy to fully hardy in UK terms and will withstand typical winter conditions across most of Britain. Use it as a low ground cover beneath shrubs, in mixed borders, rock gardens or shaded beds where a steady evergreen presence is useful. The combination of early spring flowers (March to May) and winter-tinted leaves provides seasonal structure, with the leathery foliage maintaining cover through colder months.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Bergenia

Sunlight: Full sun to full shade; winter leaf colour is strongest in sun
Soil type: Any reasonable soil, including poor and stony ground
Soil pH: Acid, neutral or alkaline
Soil moisture: Moist but well drained; tolerates dry shade once established
Aspect: Any
Exposure: Exposed or sheltered
UK hardiness: H6-H7

Plant details

Bergenia 'Bressingham Bountiful' size, habit and characteristics

Plant type: Perennial
Habit: Mat-forming, spreading by surface rhizomes
Foliage: Evergreen; broad, leathery, rounded, often flushing red or bronze in winter
Suggested uses: Groundcover, borders, rock gardens, shade gardens

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Bergenia 'Bressingham Bountiful'

Cultivation: Genuinely tough plants that will grow where little else will, including dry shade and thin soil over rubble. They spread by rhizomes that creep along the surface, so the clump gradually moves outward and the centre can go bare - lifting and replanting the vigorous outer sections every few years keeps them looking well. For the best winter colour, choose a sunny position and a cultivar selected for it.
Pruning: Remove dead and tatty leaves and spent flower spikes at the base as needed through the year. No other pruning required.
Propagation: Divide the rhizomes after flowering or in autumn, cutting sections with a few leaves and roots attached and replanting firmly. Very easy to increase this way.
Pest resistance: Vine weevil grubs attack the rhizomes, and slugs and snails notch the leaf margins - cosmetic rather than serious.
Disease resistance: Generally healthy. Leaf spot causes brown blotching in wet seasons and affected leaves are simply removed.

Frequently asked questions

How do I grow Bergenia 'Bressingham Bountiful'?

Genuinely tough plants that will grow where little else will, including dry shade and thin soil over rubble. They spread by rhizomes that creep along the surface, so the clump gradually moves outward and the centre can go bare - lifting and replanting the vigorous outer sections every few years keeps them looking well. For the best winter colour, choose a sunny position and a cultivar selected for it.

Where is the best place to plant Bergenia 'Bressingham Bountiful'?

Bergenia 'Bressingham Bountiful' prefers full sun to full shade; winter leaf colour is strongest in sun. It suits exposed or sheltered positions.

What soil does Bergenia 'Bressingham Bountiful' need?

Bergenia 'Bressingham Bountiful' grows best in any reasonable soil and including poor and stony ground soil. It prefers acid and neutral or alkaline soil. Aim for soil that stays moist but well drained; tolerates dry shade once established.

How do I prune Bergenia 'Bressingham Bountiful'?

Remove dead and tatty leaves and spent flower spikes at the base as needed through the year. No other pruning required.

Is Bergenia 'Bressingham Bountiful' hardy in the UK?

Bergenia 'Bressingham Bountiful' has an RHS hardiness rating of H6, meaning it is very hardy, tolerating -20 to -15°C across most of the UK.

How do I propagate Bergenia 'Bressingham Bountiful'?

Divide the rhizomes after flowering or in autumn, cutting sections with a few leaves and roots attached and replanting firmly. Very easy to increase this way.

More in the Bergenia genus

Browse all Bergenia →