About
Bergenia purpurascens is an evergreen perennial reaching heights of up to 40 cm. It features upright, oval leaves that transition to a beetroot-red hue during the winter months. The plant produces slender, reddish stems that support hanging clusters of deep pink blossoms.
About the genus
Bergenia are evergreen perennials that grow from rhizomes, characterized by their thick, rounded leaves. In the spring, they produce upright clusters of bell-shaped flowers, which can be pink or white.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- North-facing, West-facing, South-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, City and courtyard gardens, Wildlife gardens
- Native to
- Himalaya to Myanmar
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grows well in most humus-rich soils but dislikes extremes of heat and drought. Frosts may damage early flowers. See Bergenia cultivation for further advice
- Pruning
- Remove faded flower spikes
- Propagation
- Propagate by division or root rhizomes sections in autumn or spring
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to vine weevil and slugs and snails
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to a leaf spot