Bergenia x schmidtii - Elephant's Ears

Bergenia x schmidtii is an old hybrid dating back to 1878 that the famous gardener Gertrude Jekyll liked to place in strategic locations, such as at the edge of a flowerbed, in a rockery or under roses. Over time, this perennial forms extensive clumps displaying short and wide glossy, toothed leaves in a vibrant green colour, which are often painted purple-violet in winter. Its early spring flowering deserves to be sheltered from cold winds: from the leaf carpet emerge pale pink flowers, arranged in slightly arching clusters. Hardy and resistant, it will thrive in any good, not too dry garden soil.

Bergenia x schmidtii, sometimes called Bergenia crassifolia 'Orbicularis', is likely the result of cross-breeding between Bergenia ciliata, a Himalayan species, and B. crassifolia, native to Siberia. It is a herbaceous, creeping perennial plant of the Saxifrage family, whose foliage persists in winter.

Reaching about 30cm (12in) in height, with a creeping habit, this Bergenia forms loose clumps of vegetation. It grows on a large, thick, creeping rhizome, enveloped by the sheaths of the leaf base. Over time, the plant spreads, but its growth is so slow that it can hardly be considered invasive. Secondary stems appear here and there, eventually forming a beautiful carpet. The round, leathery leaves have coarse, toothed edges and are borne on long petioles, arranged in rosettes. They can measure up to 25cm (10in) long and 18-20cm (7-8in) wide. The lamina is glossy, strongly veined, and a vibrant green colour in spring and summer. It is not uncommon for the leaves to take on a slight purple tint in cold weather. The small bell-shaped flowers, rather pendulous, are grouped in generous, red-stemmed panicles. They are a soft pink, with a deeper shade at the throat. They appear in late winter, but bloom in early spring, in March-April.

Bergenias are long-lived perennials with good adaptability, capable of living for decades without much care: we have planted them in rockeries, along riverbanks, in sunny areas, in shade, in dry or moist soil... The evergreen foliage takes on remarkable colours in certain varieties. The Schmidt's Bergenia has proven itself: it is a variety that has been planted in gardens for a very long time and is not demanding. It thrives in shade, partial shade, or sunny but not scorching locations: dense shade, where it does not flower, and intense sun should be avoided. Cold weather and poor soils enhance its colours. If you are looking for an elegant and sturdy Bergenia to brighten up the gloomy winter days, look no further than this Bergenia. It can be advantageously used in pots, rockeries, borders, as a ground cover, or at the base of deciduous shrubs that allow winter sun but protect it from the heat of summer. It can be paired with perennial geraniums (Geranium macrorrhizum), primroses, and in woodland areas with oriental Hellebores, hostas, and Rodgersias to border a pathway.


Most Bergenias are not afraid of snow. In nature, these plants only grow where there is abundant snow in winter, as it provides excellent protection for the foliage.