Bergenia 'Pugsley's Purple' (elephant's ears 'Pugsley's Purple') — Mat-forming, spreading by surface rhizomes

Overview

Bergenia 'Pugsley's Purple' 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 'Pugsley's Purple' 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 borders, ground cover, rock gardens, woodland gardens and shade gardens.

About

Bergenia 'Pugsley's Purple' is a mat-forming perennial in the Saxifragaceae that spreads by surface rhizomes. It has broad, leathery, rounded evergreen leaves that often flush red or bronze in winter. Flowering occurs from March to May on upright stems. It is used as a ground cover and at the front of borders or in shade gardens.

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 'Pugsley's Purple' is a cultivar of Bergenia in the Saxifragaceae with a mat-forming habit, spreading by surface rhizomes to form a dense carpet of foliage. The leaves are broad and leathery and remain through the year, often flushing red or bronze in winter; flowering is in March to May on stout, upright stems. Plant in full sun to full shade — winter leaf colour develops most strongly in sun. It accepts any reasonable soil, including poor or stony ground, and suits acid, neutral or alkaline pH. A moist but well-drained soil is best; once established it tolerates dry shade. Aspect can be any and it performs in both exposed and sheltered sites. Rated H6–H7 (very hardy to fully hardy), Bergenia 'Pugsley's Purple' will cope with UK winters and can be left largely undisturbed once it has settled. Give consideration to its surface rhizomes when siting so it can either form a spreading ground cover or be contained by occasional lifting and dividing. Use it in borders, as ground cover between stones in rock gardens, or in woodland and shade borders where evergreen leaves and the March–May flower stems provide seasonal structure, with the winter red or bronze flush the plant's most reliable seasonal marker.

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 'Pugsley's Purple' 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: Borders, ground cover, rock gardens, woodland gardens, shade gardens

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Bergenia 'Pugsley's Purple'

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 'Pugsley's Purple'?

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 'Pugsley's Purple'?

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

What soil does Bergenia 'Pugsley's Purple' need?

Bergenia 'Pugsley's Purple' 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 'Pugsley's Purple'?

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

Is Bergenia 'Pugsley's Purple' hardy in the UK?

Bergenia 'Pugsley's Purple' 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 'Pugsley's Purple'?

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 →