Bergenia: planting and care in open ground, photos and descriptions of varieties, methods of propagation

• June 19, 2019
• garden plants
• Anastasia Efremenkova

In this article we will talk about the features of a plant such as bergenia, planting and caring for it in the garden. In general, bergenia is a herb and belongs to the Saxifraga family. The herb also has a second name - bergenia. This perennial herb can be found in its natural environment in China, Korea, and Central Asian countries. It prefers rocky soil, so it most often grows in rock cracks. Bergenia entered the culture in the 18th century. It received its second name from the botanist Carl August von Bergen. Now only 10 species of this grass are known, but breeders have managed to develop many more varieties. So, next we’ll find out what care and planting of bergenia in open ground include.

general description

Bergenia can be presented in the form of both perennial and annual plants that have a horizontal root system and can reach a height of 35 centimeters. The leathery leaves of bergenia are collected in basal rosettes; in almost all species, the leaves are dark green and located on long petioles. The flowers are goblet-shaped. The color palette is not too diverse. The most common flowers are white, pink or red. They are collected in paniculate inflorescences. Bergenia blooms begin around the end of May or early June, depending on the climate of the area. Please note that up to 120 flowers can be collected in one inflorescence. Bergenia also has a fruit - a seed capsule.

Quite often, bergenia is used in landscape design. This plant goes especially well with stones and crops such as phlox and hosta. Let's move on to the features of caring for and planting bergenia in open ground.

Combination with other plants

Plants that bergenia does not combine with are lily of the valley, periwinkle, sedge. Low plants that reproduce by creeping rhizomes cannot coexist next to bergenia. They simply interfere with each other.

If the flowerbed is located in the shade or partial shade, then excellent neighbors:

• Mahonia;
• astilbe;
• host;
• ozhika;
• juniper;
• fern;
• sarcoccocus;
• lungwort;
• hellebore.

Bulbous plants go well with bergenia:

• crocus;
• snowdrop;
• narcissus;
• hyacinth;
• tulip;
• goose onion;
• woodland

After flowering, bulbous plants lose their special attractiveness. Bergenia, growing, covers all available space and the flowerbed does not lose its well-groomed appearance.

Pink bergenia flowers go well with small blue scylla and forget-me-not flowers. It looks cute and romantic. Scylla wakes up early after winter; in tandem with frost-resistant bergenia, they are the first to decorate the garden and notify everyone about spring. The green perennial is unpretentious, which allows it to be combined with many plants, including annuals.

Types and varieties of bergenia

Below we will describe the types and varieties of bergenia that can most often be found in cultivation.

• Badan Strechi. It has oblong, ovoid leaves. Small teeth can be seen along the edges of these leaves. The length of the leaf is 8-10 centimeters, and the width is only 3-5 centimeters. Peduncles can reach 40 centimeters in height. They bear white or lilac-pink flowers, which are collected in racemose inflorescences. Among the best varieties of the species, Alba, Belvedere and Beethoven should be highlighted. Belvedere is different in that it grows in height to only 20 centimeters. And its white flowers gradually, during the flowering process, become pink.
• Bergenia thickleaf. Planting and caring for thick-leaved bergenia does not cause any problems. In addition, this type is most often used in medicine. It differs from other species in that it has two types of shoots: leafless flowering and vegetative rosette. On the vegetative shoots there are rather large leathery leaves that have an obovate shape. Their bright green color turns fiery red in autumn. The flowers are bell-shaped and collected in dense inflorescences. The best varieties are considered to be: Hydroruspe (a fairly tall plant - up to 60 centimeters, blooms for almost two months), Purpurea (the shrub can reach half a meter in height), Senor.
• Bergenia cordifolia. This is a variety of thick-leaved bergenia. It has rounded dark green leaves. Lilac, bell-shaped flowers are collected in racemes. Flowering begins in May. This plant came into cultivation in 1779.
• Hissar bergenia. One of the rarest species. It has rosette leaves, obovate in shape, covered with thick cilia along the edges. The flowers are located on peduncles 20 centimeters long. 6-8 white or pinkish flowers are collected in racemose inflorescences.
• Bergenia hybrid. This species includes varieties that are most often found in cultivation: Abenglut (its bright green leaves acquire a bronze-brown tint by autumn and has double flowers); Frau Holle (distinguished from other varieties by its snow-white flowers); Morgen Rothe (this variety blooms twice per season); Baby Doll (has beautiful flowers that are pale pink at the beginning of flowering and later become dark cream).

Species and varietal diversity

There are more than 10 types of bergenia found in nature, and a great variety of bred varieties. The most common:

1. Cordifolia:

• variety Rosie Close,
• overture variety,
• pinkdragonfly variety.

2. thick-leaved:

• Andrea variety,
• Beethoven variety,
• Morgenrot.

3. Pacific.

Breeders are constantly bringing out exotic new bergenia products, but they are reaching us extremely slowly. Varieties differ in early, late or repeat flowering.

Sowing seeds

It is recommended to sow bergenia before winter. Choose a suitable box and fill it with flower soil. Next, it is necessary to make grooves in the soil, the depth of which should not exceed five millimeters. The distance from one groove to another should be three centimeters. After they are ready, you should spill them with warm water, and then lay out the seeds and immediately sprinkle them with soil. After planting, the box must be taken outside and placed under the snow. At the beginning of March, it will need to be brought indoors and placed in partial shade. The air temperature in the room should not fall below +18-19 degrees.

How to prepare and store raw materials

Rhizomes and leaves are harvested separately.

Roots

When the bergenia fades, you can dig up the rhizome. This should begin at the end of June. The roots are washed, finely chopped, and then dried outside or in a dryer (temperature does not exceed 30°C). Drying lasts about a month. Store the roots in a container with a tightly closed lid. Properties can be maintained for 3 years.

Leaves

The leaves are dried on a thin layer of paper or wood. The required temperature is 30°C. The resulting material is stored in a paper bag or glass jar. It is necessary to limit access to moisture. Storage reaches 3 years.

Bergenia seedlings

Within three weeks after you bring the box of bergenia into the house, the first shoots will appear. Caring for bergenia seedlings is not difficult. It is necessary to periodically loosen the soil and carry out timely watering. But remember that you need to moisten the soil only when its top layer is dry. Also, do not forget to ventilate the room and remove weak shoots so that they do not interfere with the development of stronger ones. Sometimes it happens that a green crust appears on the surface of the earth. It indicates that the root system receives too much water, and because of this, oxygen ceases to flow to the roots.

Using bergenia in garden design

Bergenias are considered an interesting large-leaved alternative to ground covers and an ideal decoration for front gardens. With their help you can create amazingly colorful natural compositions. They are appropriate in framing ponds, rockeries, imitations of meadow plantings, in unusual edging options, borders, ornamental mixborders, in monoborders, as a camouflage for gutters and even as a lawn decoration.

Bergenias bring brightness, ornamentation and severity. This is one of the most reliable plants for creating stable, low-maintenance colorful meadows and introducing a variety of textures and patterns. Perfectly shading small-leaved and textured plants and blooming stars, bergenia invites you to admire how, with the first frost, the thin border of the leaves seems to be covered in purple watercolor, leaving bright red cushions for the winter garden.

The best partners for bergenia are hosts, daylilies, irises, periwinkles, geraniums, speedwells, flowerpots, bells, tradescantia, astilbe, rogersia, ferns, lilies, tree peonies, and decorative onions. It perfectly emphasizes the beauty of conifers and landscape shrubs with special silhouettes of branches.

Read about bergenia in our article Spring in the garden, or The brightest plants of May.

Bergenia pick

In May, the first picking of bergenia seedlings is carried out. They are transplanted into a new box. The distance from one seedling to another should be 5-7 centimeters in a row. But the distance between the rows is 15 centimeters. Decide in advance when you will plant bergenia in open ground. Because a few weeks before this, you should start hardening off the seedlings. The box with seedlings is taken out onto the loggia or balcony. It is better to start with one hour of stay there, gradually increasing the time. When the seedlings have been on the balcony for a day, you can safely start planting them in open ground.

Disembarkation time

Caring for and planting bergenia plants should not cause you any difficulties. By following simple rules, you can easily achieve success. In general, experienced gardeners recommend planting bergenia at the end of August, since the seedlings develop rather slowly. But if you see that you have strong seedlings, you can plant them in June. As for everyone else, it is better to carry out another pick and let the seedlings grow and get stronger. Bergenia seedlings will be completely ready for transplanting into open ground in August.

Varieties for planting in the garden

The bergenia plant is unique not only for its appearance and beautiful flowering, it is also medicinal.

Thanks to the leaves and rhizomes, bergenia contains large amounts of ascorbic, gallic acid, and carotene. It is used to prepare products that have anti-inflammatory effects.

Tea is also made from the leaves. It strengthens the cardiovascular system and has an original aroma.

The note! Many gardeners compare the flower with elephant ears. Indeed, its leaves have a rounded shape and they are large. Throughout the season, the leaves constantly change color, which perfectly enlivens and decorates the garden.

Let's consider cultivated varieties that are perfect for growing in the garden. Among them:

• thick-leaved bergenia is the most common variety. It is ideal for open ground; it is a herbaceous plant with large, fleshy leaves;

• Pacific bergenia - a variety with large rounded leaves, the flowers are small and look like bells;

• Bergenia cordifolia is a plant 20-40 cm high. It got its name because of the leaves - they are shaped like hearts. Blooms with white, pink, purple inflorescences.

Disembarkation rules

So, how do you plant bergenia in the garden and care for the planted seedlings?

The root system of bergenia is quite weak and is located horizontally. Therefore, for planting seedlings, you should choose loose and light alkaline soil. Quite often it happens that the roots of the bergenia begin to peek out from under the ground. You should think about this in advance, since in this position they may overheat in the sun. To prevent this from happening, you should choose a shaded area for planting bergenia. It is better if it is the northern, northeastern or northwestern part of your site. If you cannot plant bergenia in such a place, then immediately after planting, lay a layer of mulch in the root zone. This will allow the soil to dry out more slowly, and the root system will be protected from sunlight. Be sure to take into account the fact that moisture should never stagnate in the roots of bergenia. He can't stand it.

So, he proceeds directly to planting bergenia. It is necessary to make holes in the soil, the depth of which should be 6-8 centimeters. It is better to arrange them in the garden bed in a checkerboard pattern. The bottom of each hole should be covered with a layer of sand, which will act as drainage. The seedlings are transferred into the holes directly with a lump of earth and immediately dug in. Immediately after planting the seedlings, it is necessary to water the beds. The development and growth of bergenia is quite slow, so you will have to be patient. In the first two years there is no need to wait for flowering. Typically, bergenia blooms in the fourth year after planting in open ground.

Eternal trio

The classic combination of round, sword-shaped and split leaves is always welcomed by designers. Moreover, varieties with such parameters are distinguished by high growth. Some varieties of bergenia produce flower stalks up to 70-100 cm. Only the fluffy Volzhanka can compete with them. The split leaves of a flowering shrub will dilute the dense forest of large-leaved greenery. The same effect can be expected from irises. The long, sword-shaped foliage of the plant harmonizes perfectly with the round lobes of bergenia. If you add several specimens of tulips to this “senate”, the result will exceed all expectations.

Bergenia is considered an evergreen and frost-resistant variety. Nevertheless, to preserve its decorative properties, it is covered for the winter. For this, spruce branches of pine or spruce needles, branches, and rotted leaves are used.

Rules of care

Usually, planting cordifolia bergenia and caring for it do not cause any problems for the gardener, but this also applies to other types and varieties of this plant. Since bergenia is an evergreen herb, after winter, when the snow melts, damaged leaves remain on it, which should be removed in the spring. You also need to remove shoots that have grown too much or have been damaged. After pruning, complex mineral fertilizer should be applied so that the bergenia can regain its strength and begin to grow. The next feeding will be needed two weeks after the end of bergenia flowering; during this period the plant also needs to regain its strength. Because after flowering, new leaves begin to appear on it. It is better to use Kemira combi as a fertilizer. The solution is easy to prepare. For ten liters of water you will need only one tablespoon of fertilizer. This amount is usually enough for two square meters of flower bed.

A mandatory point when learning the rules for caring for and planting bergenia in open ground is watering. As already mentioned, bergenia does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil, so it needs to be watered only at certain periods. The first time is when the buds begin to form, then when flowering begins, and the third time two weeks after flowering ends. However, even this schedule should be followed if the summer turns out to be dry. If there has been rain, then there is no need to water the bergenia. In the wild, bergenia itself is able to protect its roots. This is possible thanks to dying leaves that remain in the root zone. But in culture, it is customary to remove such leaves in order to maintain the decorativeness and beauty of the area where the plant is planted. When removing such leaves, you need to get rid of the cuttings. But the root system will be perfectly protected by a layer of mulch laid directly under the bushes.

As for planting bergenia seeds, caring for seedlings was described above. There are no difficulties in this option either. However, gardeners prefer to propagate the plant by dividing the bush.

Features of growing a perennial plant

Bergenia is not the most capricious plant, so not only an experienced gardener, but also a beginner can cope with it. It can be grown almost throughout the entire territory of our country, however, in hot, dry areas, care will be complicated by frequent watering. In this case, it is better to plant it in partial shade - under trees or on the north side of the building. In general, bergenia can withstand summer temperatures up to +30°C and above, the main thing is that in hot weather it receives enough moisture and is shaded during the midday hours.

Planting in open ground

For good growth and flowering, it is important to choose a suitable place in the garden. Here the opinions of experts differ - some believe that a sunny area is necessary for flowering, others advocate partial shade. And here only personal experience will become the best adviser.

When choosing a place for bergenia, as with any other plant, it is necessary to take into account the climate of the area. For example, a sunny area in Siberia or the Moscow region is a quite comfortable place for many types of plants, while at the same time, not every weed can withstand the sun in the Southern Urals. Therefore, when choosing a place for a plant, you need to make allowances for climatic conditions - in the steppe zone with scorching sun and dry winds, it is better if the area is shaded, ideally - near a pond; in a temperate climate, sun or partial shade is suitable.

Bergenia prefers light, loose soil. The fact is that the powerful rhizome of the plant lies close to the surface and this soil structure will provide it with the necessary moisture and nutrients. Sometimes the roots are too close and even come out, so the ground around it needs to be mulched, especially in sunny places. The composition of the soil is not particularly important, but waterlogging should be avoided. You cannot plant a flower in places with possible spring flooding.

Planting and growing bergenia in flower pots

Bergenia planted in tubs or flowerpots is a real decoration of the summer garden. The plant develops well and blooms in a container, and it can also be easily moved if the chosen location turns out to be unsuccessful.

To plant in a pot or tub you need:

1. Pour drainage into the bottom of the pot - expanded clay, pebbles or crushed stone, ¼ of the volume.
2. Fill half the container with the prepared mixture - turf soil, leaf soil, compost, sand in a ratio of 2:2:1:1.
3. Place the prepared bergenia rosette in the center (if it is not planted in a composition) and cover it with the remaining soil.
4. Lightly press the soil around the plant and water.
5. Mulch the surface with bark, pebbles or decorative crushed stone.

When choosing a pot or tub for bergenia, you need to make sure there are good drainage holes. To prevent them from becoming clogged with soil during watering, shards are placed on the bottom, and a drainage layer is placed on top.

Planted in a flowerpot, bergenia feels no worse than in a flowerbed

For the winter, the flower pot or tub with a flower must be moved to a greenhouse or veranda and covered with lutrasil. Plants grown in southern regions where frost does not fall below 5°C can overwinter in containers outside. In all other regions there is a risk of the pot cracking from frost and the roots freezing.

Reproduction options

Propagation of bergenia can be carried out in two ways: by seeds or vegetatively, i.e. by dividing the bush. From year to year, the bergenia grows more and more, as a result of which new rosettes with a root system are formed. The roots of such rosettes are located quite close to the soil surface, so you can dig them up fairly quickly and not damage the mother rhizome. For division, you should choose middle-aged plants that have large leaves. It is necessary to separate the rosette along with the heel from the mother rhizome. The most suitable period is considered to be May-August.

Please note that each rhizome must have at least three living buds. All leaves of the dug cuttings must be removed; you can leave only two or three, but only the youngest ones. For divisions, holes should be prepared in advance. Their depth should be 3-5 centimeters, and the distance from each other should be 30-40 centimeters. With such a transplant, the bergenia takes root quite quickly, and already in the second year it will be possible to see its flowering. And the first year after planting, the plant grows a rosette.

Classic bergenia or bergenia

This variety represents a whole genus of crops that belong to the Saxifraga family. This genus combines at least 10 species. Since the classic bergenia is perfectly adapted to harsh conditions, as well as rocky soil, it is distinguished by its resilience. The thick and branching rhizome of this plant is located at the very top of the soil layer. In some cases, bergenia makes its way to the soil surface.

The glossy leaves are neatly collected into a rosette; they are very large in size and have a leathery texture. It is for this reason that they are popularly called elephant ears. In spring, long and erect peduncles are formed, on which umbrella inflorescences are located. The flowering period lasts 1.5-2 months. After this, fruits appear in place of the flowers.

Transplanting bergenia: when is the best time to do it?

Badan does not like frequent transplants, since it is a perennial, it can remain in one place for more than a dozen years. However, it is necessary to take into account the fact that it is growing quite strongly in breadth, capturing territories that did not belong to it. Therefore, it is recommended to replant the bergenia every five to six years. Experienced flower growers claim that the first half of September is best suited for this process - at the same time the bush is divided. Each plant should be 30 centimeters from the other. In the first two weeks, bergenia will need plenty of soil moisture. Now the question of how to plant bergenia does not seem so difficult.

How to care for a plant in open ground

Bergenia crassifolia

Growing and caring for bergenia does not require special attention; the flower is not at all capricious. The main thing is to keep the soil moist and loose.

Bergenia loves loose, fertile soil where there is no stagnation of moisture. The acidity level should be reduced. Alkalinity, on the contrary, is slightly overestimated. You can add a little lime to the soil to increase the alkalinity level.

On rainy days, the shrub does not require watering. During dry periods, it is important to give the flower enough moisture, otherwise it will get sick. Irrigation water should be at room temperature; cold water promotes stagnation of moisture and the formation of fungal diseases.

The first time after planting, it is important to provide special care to the bergenia. Watering for the first time is carried out only after the formation of the first buds, the next time - at the very peak of flowering, the third watering - when all the buds have faded. Periodically you need to carefully loosen the soil, trying not to damage the soil.

During the flowering period, there is no need to disturb the bush once again.

In spring and autumn, it is necessary to remove rotten and dried leaves, stems and buds. In the spring, mineral fertilizers are applied, and in the fall, organic and mineral fertilizing is done.

During flowering, care is suspended, which will disturb and injure the bush. During this period, it is necessary to monitor the lighting of the bushes - it should be moderate. Bergenia blooms well in lighted areas.

Important! It is extremely necessary to avoid strong drafts during flowering.

The plant is very frost-resistant, so it does not need shelter. However, flower growers notice that after winter covering with spruce branches, bergenia blooms more profusely, begins to grow faster and awakens sooner after wintering.

Diseases and pests

As already mentioned, bergenia is an unpretentious garden plant, therefore it is quite resistant to various diseases and insect attacks. However, due to unfavorable growing conditions and the gardener’s failure to comply with all the rules of agricultural technology, problems may arise. First of all, unfavorable conditions include increased soil moisture, which provokes the appearance of various fungal infections. In this case, ramulariasis is considered especially dangerous. It is quite easy to detect the presence of such a disease, since brown spots with a red border appear on the leaves. They are visible on the top of the leaf. But the lower part is covered with a whitish coating.

If treatment is not started promptly, the affected leaves will begin to dry out. All diseased leaves must be immediately removed and destroyed, and the plant itself must be treated with foundationazole or another preparation that contains copper. These include Bordeaux mixture, copper sulfate and copper oxychloride.

If your bergenia grows in partial shade, it may be affected by pests such as nematodes and slobbering pennies. Drooling pennies are easily removed with the help of drugs such as Actellik or Aktarai. The plant will need to be processed in two stages. The interval between treatments should be a week. Spraying can only be done on a dry day. The air temperature should not be lower than +21 degrees and higher than +28 degrees. But getting rid of nematodes is not so easy. Firstly, the affected bush must be dug up and the root system should be kept in a strong solution of potassium permanganate for thirty minutes. After this, the bush is planted in another place, and the soil in which it grew before must be treated with insecticides. But even after treatment, do not rush to plant other plants in this place. It's better to wait a year.

Building a pyramid

Words disappear, and emotions simply overwhelm when a multi-tiered flower bed appears. Particularly impressive is the multi-colored palette created from several types of plants. The composition is complemented by exotic trees. They place an unusual collection on alpine slides. Thanks to this combination of crops, the soil is retained during landslides and heavy rainfalls. They build a landscape “pyramid” from:

In spring, this corner takes on a magical look. The play of contrasts is possible thanks to yellow, pink and blue colors. Moreover, each plant plays its own role in this symphony of colors.

Ground cover varieties differ in several characteristics. They are small in stature, so they can create carpeting. At the same time, the culture is growing rapidly.

Bergenia is often planted to hide technical or unsightly areas in the country. The flower stems develop so quickly and densely that they leave no chance for weeds. They are also placed in tandem with yellow chamomile, which fades in mid-summer, leaving a noticeable gap in the flowerbed. If you plant bergenia next to it, then this place will not be so deserted. At the same time, varieties of the Chinese-Himalayan group are distinguished by white flowering and pubescent leaves. Unfortunately, they do not tolerate harsh winters, but they look great with peonies.

Source

Collection of bergenia seeds

After flowering, bergenia produces quite a lot of small seeds. For propagation, it is better to choose the largest and most lush inflorescences. A gauze bag is placed on fading flowers to prevent the seeds from falling to the ground when ripe. Seeds are usually collected in September. Just below the place where the bag is tied, you need to cut off the selected inflorescence and bring it into a dry room. There the seeds need to be dried for several weeks. After this, they are taken out of the seed pods, cleaned of excess debris and stored in a dry place.

Schmidt's bergenia (B. x schmidtii, or B. stracheyi var. Schmidtii)

Hybrid bergenia from cross-pollination of plants of different species were first obtained in the 19th century. An example of such a culture is Schmidt's bergenia, which has absorbed the features of thick-leaved and ciliated bergenia.

This plant is easy to distinguish from other varieties by its glossy leaves with jagged edges. Dense leaf plates are preserved under the snow. In the spring, when flower shoots appear above them, foliage growth stops and resumes with the withering of the inflorescences and the formation of seed pods.

White, purple or pink flowers up to 5 mm in diameter open from May to July or August. In the fall, seeds ripen and can be sown immediately to produce spring seedlings.

Properties of bergenia

Bergenia has quite a lot of medicinal properties. They are found in the plant's rhizome, leaves, seeds and flowers. As for the above-ground parts, they contain tannins, flavonoids, manganese, arbutin, iron, copper and many vitamins. And the roots contain polyphenols, tannins, starch and resins.

In folk medicine, bergenia is used for fibroids, enterocolitis, malignant tumors and cervical erosions. This plant is also very effective for bleeding gums and is used to treat lung diseases, influenza, dermatosis, and acute respiratory diseases. Good for headaches, hemorrhoids and fever. It can relieve articular rheumatism and help with various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

All drugs made from bergenia have a diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, wound-healing, hemostatic and astringent effect. They also help strengthen capillary walls, lower blood pressure, constrict blood vessels, and also help increase heart rate.

But there are also some contraindications to the use of bergenia. For example, taking drugs based on it for too long can cause constipation. It is also prohibited to use bergenia tinctures for people who have increased blood clotting. If you are hypotensive, then you are prohibited from taking decoctions of bergenia roots, as they lower blood pressure.

So, the article described in detail the features of care and planting of bergenia; a photo of the plant is also in the review. Which gives you an idea of ​​its appearance, behavior in the flowerbed, etc. The appearance of this plant will not leave anyone indifferent. And since even a beginner can plant bergenia in open ground and care for it afterwards, you won’t be able to deny yourself the pleasure of acquiring such a plant.

Chemical composition

The most useful part of this plant is the root. It is rich in valuable chemicals that give Badan medicinal properties.

• Ascorbic acid;
• Glucose and other sugars;
• Bergenin isocoumarin;
• Starch;
• Polyphenols.

About a third of the roots are tannins.

There are other components found in the foliage, of which the third part is tannins.

• Tannins;
• Vitamins of group C;
• Coumarins;
• Flavonoids;
• Carotene;
• Copper, manganese and iron ions;
• Gallic acid.

The plant is rich in essential oils.