Bergenia Baby Doll - Elephant's Ears

Bergenia 'Baby Doll' is a variety that will charm with its abundant flowering in pastel pink and its accommodating nature. The floral stems emerge in early spring from a clump of thick, heart-shaped leaves. In this plant, the leaves retain their slightly bluish green colour throughout the year, with a few rare red veins appearing in winter. As sturdy as its large-leaved cousins planted by our grandmothers, this charming perennial can be used to decorate a border, enhance a partially shaded rockery, or even in a lovely jar on the terrace or balcony.

The hybrid Bergenia 'Baby Doll' belongs to the Saxifragaceae family and dates back to 1950, derived from, among others, Bergenia cordifolia, a highly resistant and hardy species native to the Altaï Mountains in Siberia. 'Baby Doll' is a compact, bushy, and well-foliated variety. It will reach approximately 25cm in height when in bloom and 40cm (16in) in width at maturity. Its growth is quite slow.

The 'Baby Doll' Bergenia is a persistent herbaceous perennial with a creeping habit and vegetation gathered in dense clumps. It grows from a large, thick, and sheathed rhizome at the base of the leaves. Over time, this plant spreads very little, but its growth is so slow that it can hardly be considered invasive. Secondary stems appear here and there, eventually forming a small colony. The round, leathery, basal leaves arranged in rosettes are glossy and shiny, with a fairly light green colour. Cold temperatures sometimes give them a slight pink hue. The flowering takes place in April or May, depending on the climate. It consists of relatively large flower panicles, very pale pink around a purple centre, enclosed in old pink calyxes. Towards the end of the flowering period, the pink colour becomes slightly brighter. The flowers are borne on strong, slightly hairy stems tinged with coppery orange. They are quite long-lasting and can be used in fresh spring bouquets.

The 'Babydoll' Bergenia will thrive in most soils, but a rich, humus-rich and moist soil is preferable. Very dry soils tend to limit its growth. It will prosper in partial shade or in a sunny location that is not scorching. If you are looking for a charming and sturdy perennial that will look beautiful all year round, look no further than this Bergenia. It can be advantageously used in pots, rockeries, borders, or as a small ground cover, or at the base of deciduous bushes that allow winter sun but protect it from summer heat. It can be associated with perennial geraniums (Geranium macrorrhizum), primroses, and in woodland areas, Epimediums, oriental hellebores, and Hepaticas with their incredible blue flowers...


Bergenia cordifolia, like most bergenias, is not afraid of snow. In nature, this plant only grows where snow is abundant in winter, as it provides excellent protection for the foliage.