Bergenia Plants – Colourful, Low-Maintenance Perennials for NZ Gardens

Bergenia plants and advice for your garden

If you're looking to add a touch of vibrancy and resilience to your garden, Bergenia plants are an excellent choice. These hardy, evergreen perennials are admired for their lush foliage and stunning blooms. In this article, we’ll explore why Bergenia plants are a great addition to any garden, how to care for them, and the best companion plants to pair with them.

Why Choose Bergenia Plants?

Bergenia plants, often known as "pigsqueak" due to the sound their leaves make when rubbed, are favoured by gardeners for several reasons. They are not only visually appealing but also incredibly robust, able to thrive in a variety of conditions. Let's delve into the reasons why these plants are a must-have for your garden.

Year-Round Appeal

One of the standout features of Bergenia plants is their year-round appeal. Their broad, leathery leaves maintain their beauty through the seasons, turning a striking red or bronze in the fall and winter. This transformation adds a splash of colour to your garden when most other plants have gone dormant.

Stunning Blooms

In the spring, Bergenia plants produce clusters of bell-shaped flowers in shades of pink, purple, or white. These blooms are not only attractive but also provide an early source of nectar for pollinators like bees and butterflies, making your garden a hub of activity.

Low Maintenance

For those who prefer a low-maintenance garden, Bergenia is an ideal choice. They are drought-tolerant, resistant to pests and diseases, and can thrive in both sun and partial shade. This makes them a versatile option for various garden settings.

Planting and Caring for Bergenia

Planting Bergenia is straightforward, and caring for them requires minimal effort. Here's a step-by-step guide to ensure your Bergenia plants flourish.

Planting Bergenia

• Choose the Right Spot: Bergenias can grow in full sun or partial shade. However, they prefer a location with some afternoon shade in hotter climates.
• Prepare the Soil: They thrive in well-draining soil rich in organic matter. If your soil is heavy clay or sandy, consider amending it with compost to improve drainage and fertility.
• Planting Depth: Dig a hole twice as wide as the plant's root ball and just as deep. Place the plant in the hole, ensuring that the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface.
• Watering: Water the plant well after planting. Keep the soil moist, but not waterlogged, until the plant is established.

Ongoing Care

• Watering: Once established, Bergenias are drought-tolerant. Water them during prolonged dry periods.
• Fertilizing: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in the spring to promote healthy growth and vibrant blooms.
• Pruning: Remove any dead or damaged leaves to maintain the plant's appearance and prevent disease.

Bergenia Companion Plants

Pairing Bergenia with the right companion plants can enhance the beauty and health of your garden. Here are a few plants that complement Bergenia well:

Hostas

• Hostas are a popular choice to plant alongside Bergenia. Both plants thrive in similar conditions and their contrasting leaf textures create an appealing visual contrast. Hostas’ broad, lush leaves provide an excellent backdrop for the vibrant Bergenia blooms.

Ferns

• Ferns add a delicate texture to your garden and thrive in the same shaded areas as Bergenia. Their fronds create a beautiful juxtaposition with the bold leaves of Bergenia, adding depth and interest to your planting scheme.

[Astilbe]

• Astilbe is another excellent companion for Bergenia. Its feathery plumes of flowers come in various colors, complementing the Bergenia's blooms. Both plants prefer moist, well-drained soil, making them perfect partners in a partially shaded garden bed.

Heuchera (Coral Bells)

• With a wide variety of foliage colors and textures, Heuchera provides a stunning contrast to Bergenia's glossy leaves. Choose contrasting shades like lime green Heuchera alongside burgundy Bergenia, or pair silver-toned Heuchera with green Bergenia for a cool palette.

Grasses

• Ornamental grasses like Hakonechloa macra Aureola with its golden foliage offer movement and a textural contrast to Bergenia's dense leaves.

Bergenia Plants for Sale

For those looking to buy Bergenia plants, the best place is The Plant Company. The Plant Company prides itself on growing and sourcing the best plants for our customers. Strict quality standards mean that only the best Bergenia plants will ever be dispatched. We have a wide variety of New Zealand grown plants that absolutely thrive in New Zealand’s climate. Each plant is packed with extreme care, ensuring it arrives to you in the same condition it was in at its nursery. Our impressive Google Rating is testament to how well we perform so you can shop with confidence from the best in the industry.

What are some interesting facts about Bergenia?

Some interesting facts about Bergenia:

• These hardy perennials are native to the cold, mountainous regions of Central Asia, so they can handle some serious winter weather. They can tolerate temperatures as low as -15°C and thrive in most temperate climates.
• Bergenia boasts beautiful bell-shaped flowers in shades of pink, purple, and white that emerge in late winter or early spring.
• The name "cobbler's plant" comes from the fact that the high tannin content in Bergenia leaves was once used by cobblers to tan leather.
• In traditional medicine, Bergenia has been used to treat a variety of ailments, including diarrhoea, fever, and earaches.
• In some cultures, Bergenia is seen as a symbol of long life and happiness, making it a popular choice for gardens and gifts.
• These low-maintenance plants are practically foolproof. They require little to no pruning, thrive in a variety of soil conditions, and are resistant to most pests and diseases.
• Bergenia can be used in a variety of ways in the garden. They make excellent groundcovers, border plants, and even rock garden additions.
• The leaves of Bergenia change colour throughout the year, from green in the summer to vibrant shades of red, purple, and orange in autumn and winter.

What does Bergenia attract?

Bergenia attracts bees and butterflies. The nectar-rich bell-shaped flowers of Bergenia are a magnet for these helpful pollinators, especially in early spring when there's not much else blooming. This vibrant splash of colour in the often-barren landscape makes them irresistible.

Where is the best place to plant Bergenias?

Finding the best place to plant your Bergenias depends on a few key factors:

• Bergenias are actually quite adaptable to light conditions. They can thrive in full sun, partial shade, or even deep shade, though flowering may be reduced in deep shade. For the most abundant blooms, aim for partial shade (ideally with morning sun and afternoon shade).
• They prefer rich, moist, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. They're incredibly tough and can tolerate a wide range of soils, including poor soil, dry soil, clay soil, and even sandy soil. Just avoid waterlogged soil which can cause root rot.
• Bergenias are naturally cold-hardy and can handle temperatures down to -15°C. Consider if they need protection from harsh winds or extreme heat in your specific climate.
• Consider what you want the Bergenias to do for your garden. They can be used as groundcovers, border plants, edging plants, or even rock garden additions. This can help you decide on the spacing and placement.

Here are some specific "best places" to consider for your Bergenias based on their adaptability:

• Under trees and shrubs: They'll tolerate low light and appreciate the shelter from wind and sun.
• Dry shade: They'll add greenery and color to areas where other plants may struggle.
• Sun-drenched borders: They'll thrive and showcase their beautiful flowers, especially with regular watering.
• Gravel gardens: Their drought-tolerant nature makes them perfect for these low-maintenance areas.
• Along pathways: Their evergreen foliage offers year-round interest and their flowers add a pop of colour in spring.

Want more advice on growing Bergenia?

The Plant Company has a host of expert advice articles that cover everything you would need to know about growing Bergenia. Our Bergenia advice articles have been prepared by industry experts with the goal of enabling you to grow amazing plants.