Bergenia 'PINK DRAGONFLY'

Elephant’s ears is a great name that best characterizes leaves of this perennial. They are truly shaped like real ears of baby elephants. Most varieties change their colour in autumn and winter adding extra interest to borders and beds, or making a winter window pot looking especially attractive, combined with dwarf conifers or small-leaved plants like hebes. Bergenia was described by German botanist Conrad Moench (1744-1805) and named in honour of another German botanist Karl August von Bergen (1704-1759).

Pink Dragonfly is a fantastic variety of bergenia with elongated, narrower foliage that turns brilliant burgundy red in mid autumn and remains red until spring. It has coral pink flowers on 10-20 cm tall stems. They appear first in mid spring and then again in early summer and often continue until September.

Bergenia is a spreading, ground covering perennial with tough rhizomes. It likes moist but well-drained soil, rich in humus. Growing it in full sun will guarantee profuse flowering and richer foliage colours in autumn and winter. Avoid areas with constant drying winds. As a bergenia crassifolia hybrid which is native to Siberia it can take very low temperatures: down to -40°C (USDA zone 3). Mulching is recommended, though.

Last update 05-12-2009