PlantFiles: Heartleaf Bergenia, Pigsqueak
Bergenia cordifolia

I grew bergenia in my shade garden in Anchorage for many years. Bergenia did not seem to like spruce a lot, but didn't die. Just kind of hunkered down determinedly. They tolerate cold and snow, often showing their flowers before the snow is all gone in Anchorage. Under birch they were absolutely huge and enthusiastic spreaders, in an area that few other plants seemed to like. Now I live in Philadelphia PA and found some last year to put in sun and shade areas to see how they grow here. They seem happy in both part shade and morning sun. I was pessimistic about their ability to thrive here as I was told by some local gardeners that bergenia were not common here. Mine are happy campers, making a lovely border for my fern and shade perennial garden. The lovely leathery leaves are a great contrast to other plants such as barberry, spirea, yarrow, lamb's ear, dianthus, salvia, geranium, lilies, lavender, rudbeckia, and penstemmon. Their least attractive feature in my opinion are the flowers, which have a thickish, gaudy appearance. They can be divided and transplanted easily. If you like their look they are a definite keeper.

I will try to like this plant more. I've had it in my front garden for many years and mostly find it to be a squatty thing with gaudy pink flowers. I think I'll divide it and let it have more of a presence and see if I warm up to it. I do like the common name, pigsqueak - does anyone know where that originated?

These plants make a wonderful addition to the front of the shade border. They can get fungus if the weather is too wet. Spray with fungicide and it will clear up as the weather dries out. The early spring blooms are wonderful. Unfortunately, my bunnies keep confusing them with giant cabbages!

I originally purchased several of these plants in 1991 and transplanted them twice, most recently this spring. Much to my surprise, one bloomed in mid-August. This was in part sun. Another, in full sun, bloomed at the end of August. We'll see what happens next year, whether the bloom time normalizes.

I saw this plant potted in a quart container at a local nursery. Its shiny green leaves had a feel of leather, and were quite attractive. That was over six years ago. Today it is in the same shade garden where it was originally planted. It has increased laterally with new growth spreading in all directions. The leaves take a beating in our severe winters, but although tattered and somewhat ragged looking the plant thrives seemingly on neglect.

I have watered this plant just 3 times from early spring till early winter and it thrived!!! Considering this summer was extremely dry and hot, I consider this plant very hardy!!! Now it is shooting it's Hot pink flowers up into the air that last quite a long time in a vase. I NEVER fertilize it!!! I love this plant so much!!! It is so good for beginners. pokerboy.

An often over looked and wrongly planted perennial in our St. Albert, Alberta neighbourhood, I bought this plant for the hard to landscape shade under our poplar... It did not die off during our harsh winter (+3-4 ft. of snow at all times). It GREW! It covered our Asiatic lily to the point I could not see it coming up until yesterday! A siberian native, it dislikes full sun, and WILL NOT BLOOM if too hot. But under the tree, planted with some sheep manure and peat moss ammended soil, front row, it is blooming the tallest, hot pink flowers!

We moved into a new house this fall. This spring when the snow melted, all five feet of it, there were these large green leaves flattened by the snow. Within a week they perked up and 3 weeks later they were blooming. I was amazed to find green leaves after six months under the snow in Alaska.

Species bergenia thrives where most other plants fail in my garden. Its flowering is hit-or-miss, depending on growing conditions, but the foliage is very attractive, and resists damage from slugs.

As the plant becomes over-crowded with crowns, it is very simple to cut the plant apart and replant. The remaining stems attached to the root can be left in place to produce new leaves.

I grew Bergenia from seed two years ago (my brain just wouldn't let my heart buy the gallon-sized pots for $8 each.) It was tiny the first year, a little bigger the next, and is finally coming into its own in its third season (as is the case with most perennials.)

It has survived my clay soils, some benign neglect in the hottest part of summer, and being transplanted whenever I decided I'd plunk it elsewhere.

Bergenia has a lot going for it - thick glossy evergreen foliage that sometimes has a bronzed or purple hue. Thick flower stems emerge from the crown of the plant bearing clusters of single pink blooms in late spring and summer. Plants are long-lived and do best in well-drained soil that is not excessively fertile.

Foliage can become raggy over winter; you can remove to encourage new growth.