Bergenia (Latin name - Bergenia) is one of the most unpretentious and hardy ornamental plants. The homeland of this evergreen herbaceous perennial from the saxifrage family is Asia. It grows both in valleys (in forests and meadows) and on rocky mountain soils at an altitude of 4000 m above sea level, easily tolerating significant temperature fluctuations.

There are 10 types of bergenia, united in one genus, but only a few of them are used in decorative floriculture: the most common are thick-leaved bergenia and its variety heart-shaped bergenia, as well as Strechi bergenia. To date, many varieties of hybrids have been developed.

Most varieties of bergenia bloom in mid-April - early May. On one peduncle there are up to 120 bright flowers with a diameter of 1–2 cm. The flowering period lasts a month. Some varieties of bergenia bloom later, in June. There are also remontant varieties (for example, Morgen Rothe), which bloom 2 times per season: in spring and at the end of summer.

But faded bergenia also looks very impressive thanks to the large glossy leaves, for which the plant is popularly called elephant ears. In autumn, as air temperatures drop, the color of the leaves changes from green to red or purple. The leaves accumulate a lot of sugar, so they stay fresh all winter.

In alpine hills, bergenia looks good with Siberian scilla, phlox, lilies, and other plants with sharp leaves. The composition of bergenia with burdock looks original.

Features of caring for bergenia in open ground

The plant feels best in neutral or slightly acidic soils. But the composition of the soil is not as important as the structure: for bergenia, the main thing is that the soil is well loosened.

Its roots lie at shallow depths and grow parallel to the surface. On clay soils, bergenias often die: without access to oxygen and when water stagnates, the root system instantly rots, and the plant cannot be saved. Therefore, if the soil on the site is clayey, sand and compost are added to the bed for planting bergenia.

Lighting

It is believed that bergenias definitely need partial shade. In fact, they grow well in direct sunlight, but only with regular watering. If it is impossible to organize it, then the flowerbed is mulched with straw or sawdust so that it retains moisture.

The less sunlight the plant receives, the more luxuriant the leaves, but the more less likely that it will bloom. The ideal place for a flowerbed with bergenia is near a young tree: in this case, the sparse crown will only partially protect the plants from sunlight.

Temperature

Some varieties of bergenia are able to survive even at temperatures of –50 °C, but only under a layer of snow or leaves. If the winter has little snow, some of the plants will die. Therefore, in late autumn you need to cover with a layer of hay, straw or fallen leaves:

• young plants under 1 year of age (from seeds or cuttings);
• bergenia of frost-resistant varieties.

Frost-resistant bergenias do not need to be covered, but if there is little snow, the flower stalks may freeze.

Watering

Bergenias require moderate watering. Neither water stagnation nor soil drying out should be allowed. Moreover, while plants with a strong root system can survive drought, excess moisture leads to rotting of the roots.

Fertilizer

Bergenia cannot be fertilized:

• during flowering;
• in the spring until the leaves turn green.

The best time to fertilize is 1–2 weeks after flowering, when new rosettes are being formed. To feed, a tablespoon of complex mineral fertilizer, for example, Kemira Combi, is dissolved in a bucket of water. This dose is calculated for 2 m² of flower bed. In the fall, if the plant does not bloom again, it is fed with phosphorus: 20 g of superphosphate per bucket of water (the dose is intended for watering 1 m² of flower bed).

Transplantation and thinning

Badan is very sensitive to the transplant. It can grow in the same place for more than 10 years. But during this time, the roots will spread in different directions, and new rosettes will form on them.

It must be taken into account that the normal distance between bushes is 40–50 cm. If it is less, there is a danger of rot spreading. Therefore, once every 4–5 years, the flowerbed is thinned out, removing excess rosettes with rhizomes. The shoots are transplanted to a new location or the roots are used as medicinal raw materials.

Removing old leaves

In nature, wilted bergenia leaves dry and gradually rot, simultaneously fertilizing the soil and protecting the roots from overheating. But in a flowerbed it looks unaesthetic. In spring, dry or beginning to dry leaves are carefully broken off. They are washed, dried, crushed and made into a healing tea that strengthens the immune system.

Propagation of bergenia

Bergenia is propagated in two ways:

• vegetative;
• seeds.

Vegetative propagation

Due to the fact that the rhizomes are located near the surface, they can be cut off without damaging the mother plant. The procedure is performed in July–August, when flowering has ended, but the leaves have not yet turned red. Bergenia takes a long time to take, so plants planted in the fall often die in winter.

The root cutting must have at least 3 healthy buds. All leaves are removed from the young rosette, except for the 2-3 central ones. The depth of the hole for planting bergenia is 6–7 cm. A glass of sand is poured onto the bottom. The cuttings are planted obliquely: this way the bergenia will take root faster. The root should not be buried too deep into the soil, otherwise it will rot. The distance between the bushes is at least 40 cm. A month after planting, the bergenia needs to be fed with Kemira Combi solution (a tablespoon per bucket of water). Young plants bloom in 1–2 years.

Propagation of bergenia by seeds

Bergenia seeds can be bought in the store or collected yourself. At the end of November - December, a container with drainage holes is filled with soil mixture for flowering plants. The soil in the box is leveled and grooves are made 3–4 mm deep, the distance between them is 1 cm. Seeds are sown in the grooves and sprinkled with soil.

The container is filled to the top with snow and buried in a snowdrift in the yard or on the balcony. If there are no conditions for this, another stratification method is used: the seeds are sown in moist soil in mid-February, the container is covered with a plastic bag and placed in the refrigerator. Condensate is removed every 2–3 days.

At the beginning of March, the container in the bag is placed in a bright place, the optimal air temperature is from +18 to +19 °C. To prevent mold from appearing, turn the bag over to the other side every day. The seeds hatch in 20–25 days. After this, the package is removed. It is advisable to water from below.

A week after the emergence of seedlings, they begin to harden them: every day they are taken out to an unheated room for 15 minutes, and from April to the balcony. 3-4 weeks after the emergence of seedlings, they are picked: transplanted into cups or another box. The distance between two plants is 6–7 cm.

The strongest seedlings are planted in open ground at the end of June, the rest - until mid-August. 2–3 weeks after planting, young plants are fed with Kemira or other complete mineral fertilizer. But the seedlings will bloom only after 3–4 years.

Problems with bergenia flowering

If an adult plant (over 4 years old) does not bloom, the root of the evil should be sought in improper care of the bergenia.

Here are just a few reasons:

• the peduncle froze in winter;
• too dense plantings;
• frequent transplants;
• lack of light;
• excess moisture;
• the plant is planted in direct sunlight and lacks moisture;
• fungal disease.

If the plant is healthy, then it is usually enough to feed it with potassium magnesia (at the rate of a tablespoon per bush), spray it with “Fitosporin” or a stronger fungicide, ensure regular watering, protect it from frost for the winter, and next season the bergenia will delight its owners with abundant flowering.

Diseases and pests of bergenia

If brown spots with a red border appear on the leaves of the bergenia, covered with a bluish coating on the bottom, it means that the plant is suffering from ramulariasis, a fungal disease. To prevent it, bergenia is sprayed with Fitosporin solution once a month. If the plant is already sick, it is necessary to use fungicides with copper: copper sulfate solution, Oksikhom, Kuprosan.

It’s worse if a nematode is found in the soil: then the bergenia will be very difficult to save. The plants will have to be dug up and the roots soaked for half an hour in a saturated (intensely pink) solution of potassium permanganate. Then the bergenia is transplanted away from other flowers and cultivated plants, into “quarantine”. The soil must be shed with a solution of some nematicide, for example, “Carbation” (toxic to people, animals and plants) or “Avermectin” (a biological product that does not have an allergenic effect).

Today we will look at growing Bergenia from seeds in open ground and find out what features exist in caring for the plant. Let's discuss prevention against diseases and pests. We will also analyze common mistakes flower growers and answer the most common questions.

Bergenia is a herbaceous perennial plant of medicinal and decorative value. In its natural environment it grows in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Bergenia can be found in Primorye, Altai Territory, Siberia. Grows well on mountain slopes, rocky and forest-steppe areas.

Blooms from late March to late May. Depending on the type and variety, Bergenia flowers are pink, purple, white and red. The flowers are goblet or bell-shaped. The flowers are collected in paniculate inflorescences located on a high peduncle.

The diameter of Bergenia flowers is no more than 2 cm. There are up to 120 flowers in one inflorescence

Growing Bergenia from seeds in open ground: conditions

Bergenia grows well in light and loose soils. Tolerates alkaline and moist soils well. Areas located in partial shade or under the canopy of tall trees are suitable for planting Badan. When planted in a sunny area, the growth and development of the plant is weakened, spots in the form of burns form on the leaves, the inflorescences are drooping, and the flowers quickly fade.

The horizontal roots of the plant are located close to the soil surface, so they are difficult to tolerate dry areas. To protect the root system, the soil is mulched, which allows it to retain moisture on the driest days.

The main care for bergenia is watering and thinning. The plant should be watered frequently, but moderately, avoiding waterlogging of the soil. The thinning procedure is carried out to prevent the development of disease and pests.

Bergenia is a ground cover plant that forms dense thickets, thanks to which it clogs weeds

Step-by-step instructions for growing Bergenia from seeds

Bergenia begins to bear fruit in the second half of July and ends in mid-August. The seeds are contained in a dry box. Each box contains several hundred seeds. The seeds are small up to 2 mm.

Seeds can be sown in open ground and sown in containers for growing seedlings. Experienced gardeners recommend not sowing seeds immediately in open ground, but germinating them in shallow trays. Reproduction at home will allow the seedlings to become stronger before planting in open ground.

The generative method of propagation of Badan is a long process. During the first 1.5-2 years, young plants obtained from seeds develop slowly and require care.

Badan seedlings bloom on average 3-4 years after sowing

Sow seeds in early spring in small containers. It is not recommended to bury the seeds deep into the soil; it is enough to mix the seeds with clean coarse sand and distribute them evenly over the surface of the moist soil. The crops are covered with film and placed outside under the snow. In the second half of March, containers with sowing are brought into a warm room. The appearance of friendly shoots begins after 25 days.

Young shoots sprout when the first leaf appears. Planted for growing in open ground in mid-May. However, seedlings are planted in a permanent place in the second year or as soon as the rosette of leaves reaches 10-12 cm. In the table we consider several types of purchased soil suitable for sowing Badan seeds:

Purchased soil provides good oxygen access to the roots of young plants, and also allows for even distribution of moisture in the soil. Soil acidity is neutral

Tip #1: To grow seedlings, you must use soil without decomposing organic matter. Such organic matter displaces nitrogen compounds from the soil mixture. Nitrogen is necessary for the development of seedlings at the initial stage of growth. Moreover, the decomposition of organic matter generates a lot of heat, which leads to overheating of the soil and the death of the still weak root system of young plants. Often, strong heating of the soil leads to the death of seeds.

Planting Badan seedlings in open ground

Bergenia seedlings are planted in the spring - in mid-March. This period is the most favorable for the rooting of young seedlings. With proper care, the seedlings will grow stronger and accumulate all the necessary nutrients for the winter.

Before planting, seedlings must be acclimatized, namely, seedlings should be brought into the garden in early March on the warmest and windiest days. After some time, as soon as the morning frosts and night frosts are over, the seedlings are left overnight in the area under a plastic cover. Then the cover is removed and the plant continues to be hardened for several more days.

Before planting in open ground, seedlings are watered with liquid fertilizer containing nitrogen-phosphorus compounds. This feeding will speed up the rooting of seedlings in a new place. Before planting seedlings in open ground, it is necessary to prepare the soil. The soil should be light and loose, such soil is well warmed up by the weak rays of the sun. If the soil is clayey, sand must be added; add a little clay to sandy soils. Holes in the soil are formed with a depth of no more than 2-2.5 cm. The seedlings are planted in open ground along with a lump of earth. The seedlings are placed at a distance of 10-12 cm. After planting, the seedlings are moderately watered with water at room temperature.

Tip #2: After planting in open ground, Badan seedlings must be covered with film. This will protect young plants from sudden frosts, bright rays of the sun, heavy rainfall and pests. The film is periodically opened slightly to ventilate the seedlings. As soon as the plant takes root, the film is removed .

Planted seedlings must be mulched. Mulch in the first stages of plant development will suppress the growth of weeds and retain the required amount of moisture and heat in the soil. In the table we consider suitable material for mulching young Badan plants:

Organic types of mulch, in addition to retaining heat and moisture in the soil and protecting against weeds, improve the structure of the topsoil. Inorganic types of mulch provide good shade to the soil and retain moisture, but on persistently hot days they can lead to overheating of the soil or cause a greenhouse effect.

Cultivated varieties of Bergenia for planting in the garden

In nature, there are about 10 species of Bergenia, from which garden forms of the plant were obtained. Garden forms of Badan are hybrids of various origins. In the table we consider the varietal characteristics of each of the above Badan varieties:

Garden varieties	Plant height (cm)	Features of flowers	Leaf Features
"Pacific"	45-50	The inflorescences are dense, the flowers are reddish-pink	Ellipsoidal leaf shape. Green in spring and summer, red-burgundy in autumn
"Thick-leaved"	45-50	The flowers are large up to 2 cm, dark pink	The leaves are wide, hard, fleshy. In spring, summer – light green, by autumn – red-brown with shine
"Heart-leaved"	30-35	Inflorescences pink or bright purple	The leaves are heart-shaped, hard, smooth, and shiny. Green in spring and summer, red-burgundy in autumn
"Schmidt"	35-40	Inflorescences are bright scarlet	Ellipsoidal shape of leaves In spring, in summer the leaves are matte, green, by autumn they are green with a blue tint.
"Bach"	35-40	Cone-shaped inflorescences, white flowers	Ellipsoidal, rigid. Dark green in spring and summer, brown in autumn

To grow Badan, it is necessary to prepare areas in which the plant will grow for 8-10 years. It is important to remember that all garden forms of Badan are difficult to tolerate the transplantation procedure.

All Badan varieties do not like stagnation of water in the soil, and also do not tolerate exposure to direct sunlight. Waterlogged soil often leads to rotting of the root system.

Bergenia is rarely affected by diseases and pests. The development of the disease is observed only if the plant is not properly cared for. The absence of pests is due to the specific chemical composition of the plant, which repels the vast majority of pests. Experienced gardeners note that Badan is affected by slobbering pentilia and nematodes. Pennytail appears if the plant is planted in shady areas with frequent accumulation of water in the soil. Nematodes develop in the soil when applied large quantity organics.

Badan looks impressive against the backdrop of artificial reservoirs and among stones

To prevent the development of diseases and the appearance of pests, it is necessary to regularly remove dead above-ground plant organs, as well as promptly remove fallen leaves and weeds. When planting is dense, it is recommended to carry out a thinning procedure.

Bergenia in landscape design

Bergenia looks good when planted along garden paths. Thanks to the horizontal root system, which develops close to the surface, Bergenia successfully takes root and grows in areas with an uneven surface.

Bergenia looks organically in a composition with thujas and green pine needles

Serious mistakes gardeners make when growing Bergenia

The main mistakes are:

1. The seeds are planted deep into the soil.
2. Seedlings are planted in early spring without hardening.
3. Rooted seedlings are not mulched.
4. Water frequently and abundantly.
5. Seedlings are grown in the sunniest areas.

Frequently asked questions from gardeners

Question No. 1. What material should not be used to mulch Bergenia seedlings?

Answer: Types of organic mulch such as sawdust, wood shavings and bark, when rotting, extract nitrogen from the soil, which impairs the development and rooting of young plants. Use of fallen leaves as mulch should be done with extreme caution. It is not recommended to bring in foliage from diseased trees or trees that have been treated with chemicals.

Question No. 2. When can you replant an adult Bergenia plant?

Answer: Badan does not tolerate transplantation well. Replant in mid-summer or first half of autumn.

Question No. 3. What is the optimal age of a Bergenia plant for dividing a bush?

Answer: Badan aged more than 5 years is suitable for dividing rhizomes. Otherwise, the plant will not tolerate division well, which can lead to disease and death of the plant.

Question No. 4. At what stage of Badan development can mineral fertilizers be applied?

Answer: They are fed with mineral fertilizers at the flowering stage and after it ends.

Question No. 5. Is it possible to sow Badan seeds directly in open ground?

Answer: It is not recommended to sow Bergenia seeds in open ground; the germination rate of such seeds is low. Sowing seeds in open ground is carried out at the end of March until the end of April. Seedlings appear in about a month. For the winter, the seedlings are covered with straw. It blooms 3-4 years after planting.

The flowering plant bergenia is a charming evergreen “resident”, which is considered a worthy decoration for any summer flower garden. About what varieties and types of bergenia there are, how to properly plant and care, grow and propagate the plant, as well as what garden crops to combine in landscape design, we'll tell you in the article!

Description: varieties and varieties of bergenia

An unusually beautiful bergenia plant, completely strewn with small pink flowers, came to gardeners from Siberia. It was the harsh growing conditions that made the herbaceous plant unpretentious and capable of wintering in any region of our country.

Thanks to its beauty and unpretentiousness, bergenia will not leave any gardener indifferent.

The amazing feature of bergenia is not only the beauty of the inflorescences, but also its remarkable healing properties: the leaves and rhizomes of the garden perennial are considered a treasure trove of ascorbic, tannic and gallic acid, and carotene. Prepared from thick-leaved bergenia medicines have a good anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effect, have a beneficial effect on intestinal motility, and improve the secretion process of the digestive glands. And tea brewed from the leaves will not only have an unusual aroma, but also strengthen the cardiovascular system.

Interesting! Gardeners often compare bergenia, which does not take much time to plant and care for, with elephant ears. And all because the plant has beautiful, large leaves, which can change their color throughout the season, which greatly enlivens the flower garden, emphasizing its uniqueness and picturesqueness.

Bergenia leaves - juicy and bright - will decorate the garden, even when the plant is not blooming

In nature, there are about 10 species of this flowering plant and many of the most unusual varieties. This feature allows you to create luxurious floral arrangements using only bergenia.

The most common garden crop is the thick-leaved bergenia, which received its name because of its fleshy leaves with petioles, which contain a supply of moisture. By crossing thick-leaved bergenia with other species, breeders managed to develop several varieties of this crop:

• "Britten" with soft pinkish flowers (gardeners call this variety "apple blossom");

Variety "Britten"

• "Purple Glocken" with fragrant inflorescences of a deep purple color;

Variety "Purple Glocken"

• "Abbenglute" with bright pink velvety flowers;

Variety "Abbenglute"

• “Morgenrote”, “Sunningdale” are no less beautiful, but late-flowering varieties. Their flowering peak occurs in the middle of the summer season.

Variety "Morgenrote"

Planting a plant

If you want bergenia, which is extremely simple to plant and care for, to grow to its full potential and retain all its beneficial properties as much as possible, try to recreate the natural natural conditions for its growth.

For planting, it is better to use lightweight turf soil, avoid clay soil, or dilute it with fine sand or crushed stone. Bergenia grows well in sand, compost and clay soil, but stagnation of water has a bad effect on its growth and flowering. If the post is sufficiently drained, you can safely landscape the banks of reservoirs and ponds with flowering plants.

Bergenia feels good on various soils

The best period for planting is spring or late summer. Before planting, the soil is prepared, its composition is determined and, if necessary, improved, and weeds are removed. Only after this a spacious hole (up to 30 cm) is dug, the rhizome of the plant is placed in it and sprinkled with earth.

Advice! Planting is done with the utmost care so as not to damage the root system!

Often before planting, the hole is filled with water, into which the rhizomes are placed and covered with a layer of soil. Then the soil is compacted and mulched with sawdust and peat. If the second method was chosen for planting (using water), then watering will be required only after 5-7 days.

Plant care

Like any garden crop, bergenia requires care, but it cannot be called burdensome. All that is needed for normal growth and fabulous flowering is timely watering, eliminating stagnation of water and overflow, suitable feeding, periodic cleaning of falling leaves and mulching.

It is better to mulch the soil around the bush to ensure uniform evaporation of moisture

Important! In the spring, the bergenia needs to be cleared of last year's shoots, dried leaves should be removed, and the shoots should be slightly shortened.

If the plant was not planted in a visible place personal plot, then you don’t have to clear the garden crop of last year’s leaves: as they gradually fall off, they will cover the soil with a kind of protective layer that will help retain moisture in the soil and protect the plant from overheating in the summer heat.

In one place, bergenia can grow quietly for about 10 years, while it does not require replanting and is extremely resistant to frost in the soil.

Fertilizer and fertilizing of bergenia

The plant is very responsive to properly selected fertilizing. Before and after bergenia blooms, it is recommended to use mineral fertilizers. 2-3 weeks after flowering, you can feed the plant: fertilizers in this case activate the process of growing and aging of the leaves, which at this time are just beginning to change their color.

The plant should be fed with mineral compounds

Plant propagation

The reproduction procedure is somewhat lengthy and difficult, but not all of us prefer easy solutions. For those who do not succumb to difficulties, we will tell you about two methods of propagation - using seeds and cuttings.

Method 1. Growing bergenia by propagating seeds.

To begin with, we note that bergenia has black and very small seeds (1-2 mm). During the first few years, seedlings develop slowly, forming miniature rosettes no more than 2.5 cm long. Seedlings need constant watering and supervision, and in late autumn they must be covered with dried leaves until spring. In addition, the seedlings must be covered with a compost substrate, loamy soil and sand (1:1 ratio).

Bergenia seeds

Experienced breeders note that the most The best way reproduction means planting in early spring in a special seed container, which is fearlessly exposed in the winter under the snow and only in mid-spring is placed in warmth. Seedlings are planted in an area of ​​permanent growth in the second year in the second half of summer.

Method 2. Growing bergenia by cuttings.

For propagation using this method, strong and healthy middle-aged plants are selected. Before planting, part of the branch with the apical bud and rosette is separated, and almost all the leaves are torn off. Usually after a few days you can notice the first signs of rooting. It is recommended to plant cuttings at a distance of no more than 40 cm from each other, placing the rosette in prepared soil to the base. The procedure for caring for seedlings is similar to adult plants.

The easiest way to propagate a plant is by cuttings

Diseases and pests

Thick-leaved bergenia is insensitive to pests and diseases. But this is only if all the conditions for flower growth are met, otherwise the plant may suffer from spotting from time to time: brown spots with sharp outlines will appear on the leaves. Subsequently, the color of these spots will change from brown to brown-gray. A white, unhealthy coating gradually forms on the underside of the leaves. To get rid of a fungal disease, it is enough to cut off diseased leaves or spray with Bordeaux mixture, foundation or preparations with a high copper content.

Bergenia disease - spotting

Bergenia: combination with other plants

Bergenia, planted in flower beds, creates unusual compositions with plants such as:

• fern;
• Mahonia;
• lungwort;
• juniper;
• hellebore.

Bergenia in the flowerbed

But it is better not to plant bergenia with lilies of the valley, periwinkle and other low-growing and creeping plants - it will not only get lost among them, but will also prevent them from growing, and will itself be limited in space. A well-groomed bergenia growing under the spreading crown of any deciduous tree looks unusually picturesque and harmonious. Bergenia is no less beautiful surrounded by spring bulbous flowers - delicate, charming snowdrops and woodlands, bright crocuses.

Bergenia in landscape design

An important feature of bergenia - unpretentiousness of care and lighting - allows you to grow the plant both in the shade and in direct sunlight, in flower beds surrounded by other flowers and as an independent unit of landscape design. Thanks to its creeping rhizomes, bergenia effectively covers the soil, preventing the appearance of weeds.

How to grow bergenia correctly: video

Bergenia in the garden: photo

IN Lately The design of summer cottages in a natural style is becoming fashionable, and the ideal plant for this could be the perennial bergenia (lat. Bergenia) or bergenia - the Saxifraga family.

Having planted this plant, from early spring until autumn frosts the site will be adorned with a plant with decorative ornamental leaves of dark green color and pink panicles of flowers.

In addition to its decorative qualities, bergenia is a medicinal plant, widely used in folk medicine to treat many ailments. The plant is quite unpretentious, so every gardener can grow bergenia.

Description of the plant

Bergenia is a perennial plant belonging to the Saxifragaceae family. Widely distributed in the northern regions, where it grows in the wild. In the regions of the central zone it is used as landscaping and decoration of summer cottages, gardens, and vegetable gardens.

The plant has gained popularity among summer residents and landscape designers due to its unpretentiousness and external characteristics, which are attractive and decorative. Large, dense, green bergenia leaves, similar in appearance to cabbage leaves, turn red in the fall. Flowerbeds and areas decorated with bergenia become very beautiful in autumn.

In April, the period of formation of peduncles up to 50 centimeters long begins. The bergenia inflorescence itself looks like a panicle, with a large number of small flowers. The flowering period begins in May and lasts until June-July. The petals of the inflorescences have a color depending on the variety:

• pink,
• red,
• white,
• purple,
• purple.

Bergenia is pollinated by insects during the flowering period. Flowering time can vary from April to June - it depends on the region of growth.

At the end of the flowering of the bergenia, a nut with a large content of seeds, 2 mm in size, appears.

Interesting: the wild plant blooms in white and pink, but botanists have tried and have bred many varieties of bergenia, with various shades and decorative qualities. A plant planted around ponds looks very impressive.

Types and varieties

Cultivated varieties of bergenia were bred using wild plant species.

It is worth noting that in nature there is more than 10 plant varieties, thanks to which decorative, garden varieties of bergenia were obtained.

Let's look at the most common and popular ones:

• Thickleaf (B. crassifolia)- one of the common plants, 50 cm high. It blooms in a dark pink shade (in the title photo), the flower is up to two centimeters in diameter. The leaves have a light green shiny hue in spring and summer, and red-brown in winter. The bush is large - height 50 cm.
  
• Pacific (Bergenia pacifica kom.)- a fairly large plant, reaching a height of up to 50 centimeters. It has a reddish peduncle with pink flowers resembling small bells. Flowers may have a lilac tint. The leaves are ellipsoidal, hard, leathery, dark green, turning red in autumn.
  
• Heartleaf (B. cordifolia) Red Star– a medium bush, up to 35 centimeters, but it is worth noting that the height may vary depending on the growing conditions. It blooms depending on the variety; the inflorescences can be either pink or bright purple. The decorative effect of this plant is added by large, lush, heart-shaped leaves, which can have different colors. May bloom twice a year.
• Schmidt's bergenia (B. schmidtii)- a very unpretentious plant, popular in Europe. The difference between this variety is that it has small wings that beautifully frame the leaves along the edges and at the petiole. Blooms bright scarlet. This variety of bergenia is also distinguished by the fact that its leaves are matte and acquire a blue tint in the fall.
  
• Badan Tubby Andrews- a unique plant obtained by hybrid means. Its leaves are very decorative, as the dark green color has white, yellow veins and spots. In autumn the leaves turn red-orange. Bush 30 centimeters. We can say that this is the most beautiful variety.
  
• Badan Bach (Bergenia x hybrida Bach), photo below: representative of the “musical” series, which was bred by breeder Schmidt. An unpretentious plant, winter-hardy and compact. Inflorescences are cone-shaped with bell-like flowers that begin to bloom in April. Looks great in combination with irises, ferns, aquilegia,.
  

Reproduction

Bergenia should be planted in partial shade, because its roots protrude to the surface and need to be protected from direct sunlight. Bergenia thickleaf loves loose and moist soils, but without stagnant water. The plant is planted in a permanent place immediately, planning that it will grow there for 10 years, since bergenia does not tolerate constant replanting. It is good to plant the plant next to ornamental sedge and irises. The plant is propagated in two ways: from seeds and dividing the bush.

From seeds

Rarely does anyone have the patience to propagate bergenia in this way at home, since it is very time-consuming and painstaking. But it's worth describing.

As mentioned above, the seeds of the plant are very small, smooth, and black. During the first few years, seedlings practically do not grow, their development is slow. Small, 2.5 centimeters in diameter rosettes require careful care and constant watering. They are difficult to tolerate wintering, so in the fall they need to be covered with a large amount of foliage or straw, and should be opened only when the temperature is consistently warm without night frosts.

The best option would be to sow the seeds in small boxes that can be taken out in winter and brought into the house in March. It will be possible to dock in a permanent place only in the second year; replanting is carried out in mid-summer or early autumn. The soil for sowing is prepared the same as for an adult plant:

• compost – 3 parts;
• sand – 3 parts;
• loam – 3 parts.

If not properly cared for, seedlings may die.

Dividing the bush

The easiest way to propagate a bergenia bush, and it makes it possible to get a flowering plant the next year. The most optimal time for dividing the bush is the end of May, the second ten days of June, as soon as the plant fades and when it is safe for the divisions to plant.

Important: you cannot divide a plant that is not yet 5 years old; it will not survive division well, will begin to get sick and may die.

To make it easier to remove the bush without damaging the root system, you need to loosen the area well. Then you need to cut the jacket into pieces using a disinfected tool. Make sure that each division has roots.

How to plant cuttings? To begin with, place individual bushes in a solution of potassium permanganate for a while to disinfect the cuts. During this time, you need to prepare the soil for planting. Holes 15 cm deep are dripped at a distance of 40 cm from each other. Plants are planted, slightly deepening the roots, watered and well covered with film to create a greenhouse effect.

Important! Although bergenia tolerates drought, during the rooting period it is watered regularly and abundantly.

Care

Although bergenia is an unpretentious plant, when planting it on your site you should know some nuances in care.

Regular watering. In spring, dry leaves and flower stalks are removed from the plant, long shoots are trimmed to give a neat appearance.

If you did not mulch the soil in the fall, then during spring care you do not need to remove dry leaves; they will serve to protect the roots from the summer heat.

The plant is fed with mineral fertilizers during the flowering period and immediately after it ends, since during the dormant period inflorescences begin to form for the next flowering.

Pests and diseases

It is worth noting that bergenia gets sick very rarely, and its chemical composition repels many pests. But in clayey soils with frequent stagnation of water, the roots may rot.

Slobbering Penny can settle on bergenia if it grows in a shady place.

Soil worm nematodes- the most terrible pest for grass, since if you watch out for their appearance, you can lose the entire planting in one season. But it is possible to save the plant. All bushes are dug up and quarantined for a day in a solution of potassium permanganate. A new landing site is being prepared. The soil with nematodes must be treated with a chemical composition. A day later, the bergenia is planted at a new place of residence.

Medicinal properties

Our grandmothers also used bergenia as a remedy for many ailments. Nowadays, it has already been scientifically proven that this plant has a complex chemical composition, in which:

• a lot of tannins,
• there is glucose,
• glycosides,
• iron,
• ascorbic acid,
• copper,
• phytoncides,
• manganese.

Bergenia has extensive medicinal properties, but it is used mainly as:

• antiviral,
• antibacterial,
• anti-inflammatory,
• diuretic,
• hemostatic,
• astringent,
• antioxidant,
• wound healing,
• strengthens the walls of blood vessels.

It is worth noting that not only the leaves, but also the roots of the plant are useful.

Interesting: an infusion of bergenia root constricts blood vessels, so if you have vascular diseases, consult a doctor before using the drug.

Where to buy seeds

This plant is very popular, so it will not be difficult to purchase seeds, divisions and cuttings. Plant seeds can be bought from specialized stores, ordered online, or by mail via semenapost

Bergenia in landscape design

The undemanding nature of bergenia in care, consecration and in proximity to other plants makes it possible to decorate an area of ​​any location and lighting. The plant can be planted as an independent unit of landscape design, or in flower beds with other flowers. In addition, the creeping roots of bergenia densely cover the soil around, preventing weeds from appearing.

The plant looks great as a frame on the site.

Looks good next to decorative sedge or herbs, for example.

Bergenia and hakonechloa.

Thanks to its superficial creeping roots, bergenia can grow in areas.

Bergenia leaves become a real decoration of the site in autumn.

In the photo below, the bright Bergenia variety Rotblum is a very beautiful plant, up to half a meter high with purple inflorescences and red arrows of peduncles - good for planting in the garden as a tapeworm:

Bergenia in a flowerbed, selection of photos:

Badan with thujas. The composition is not complete (bare earth is visible), but it is clear that the bright bergenia flowers go well with the golden pine needles.

Next to the wild stone.

In a classical garden.

A strict, neat composition with perennials and herbs.

It’s hard to notice the bergenia here, but in the very center of the photo it’s the one that’s a good solution for the mixborder.

A border of bergenia along a rocky path.

As a full-fledged participant in a mixed border, lining up rosehip bushes.

This time the bergenia is framed by a stone stream.

Bergenia in a flowerbed with daffodils.

As a frame for a slope.

Bergenia with heucheras, ferns, herbs.

An interesting fact is that bergenia can be combined with any plants, flowers and shrubs. Even with such an exotic and very beautiful bush as sakura.

Video review

A detailed review in the program “Unpretentious Plants for the Garden” from the Garden World blog.

In a spring flowerbed, one cannot help but notice large rosettes of lush green foliage, with bright pink inflorescences on dense, erect peduncles. This is an incense plant, planting and caring for it in open ground will not cause any trouble even for a novice gardener. But thanks to this unpretentious, eye-catching and very useful plant, the garden will truly be transformed.

Perennial garden varieties of bergenia come from those parts of Asia where other representatives of the green world would not be too comfortable. Plants settle not only in alpine meadows and lowlands, but also on rocky ledges and highlands. Such conditions “hardened” the flower, often called saxifrage for its endurance.

In landscape design, as in the photo, bergenia has found its place on alpine hills and near ponds, in group plantings with other decorative perennials. Mono-planting of this crop, which grows quickly and forms picturesque clumps of dense foliage, is quite common.

Growing bergenia and caring for it on the site will not make it difficult for the ever-busy summer resident. The main thing is to find a suitable place for the perennial and create conditions for growth and flowering.

Where and how to plant bergenia?

The unpretentiousness, frost resistance and endurance of bergenia in nature have been fully transferred to garden varieties. Therefore, even a beginner can grow them in his flowerbed. Like other perennial crops, bergenia is planted as seedlings or daughter rosettes separated from an adult plant.

But before you plant bergenia, you need to choose a suitable place for it. The crop feels best in areas with loose, light soil. Such soil helps the surface roots receive nutrition, oxygen, and also the moisture desperately needed by the bergenia.

When choosing a location, preference is given to areas where bergenia will not suffer from drought and direct sunlight, as well as from the proximity of spring stagnation of water. In partial shade the plant will be quite comfortable, but if the rosettes have to spend a lot of time in the sun, the soil under it must be mulched.

Bergenia has no special requirements for the composition of the soil. It’s great if in the area where bergenia is to be planted, the soil has a slightly alkaline reaction. However, even on a slightly acidic substrate, the plant can adapt, bloom and reproduce.

Caring for bergenia flowers after planting

As soon as the snow begins to melt, bergenia leaves appear from under it. True, the foliage left over from last year managed to suffer over the winter.

Therefore, in the spring, care when planting bergenia in open ground begins with the removal of damaged or dead leaves. Next, they add under the rosettes, which are designed to stimulate growth and support the plants during flowering.

When the pink or lilac bells in the panicle inflorescences fade, the plantings are fed again. This time, fertilizers will restore nutrient reserves and accelerate the growth of rosettes.

Fertilizing is combined with watering or carried out on already moist soil. Since bergenia reacts well to water, it must be watered:

• during the formation of buds and the appearance of flower stalks;
• after two 10–20 days, if there is insufficient precipitation during this period;
• in the future, until the end of summer if there is a threat of drought.

In the hot season, when the soil loses moisture due to evaporation and the roots may dry out, the soil is mulched. It is especially important to do this, as in the photo, when caring for bergenia after planting.

Propagation of bergenia

You can get young bergenia plants on your site by sowing seeds of the variety you like or by dividing an already grown plant.

Seed propagation of bergenia involves cold stratification.

The seeds sown in furrows no more than 0.5 cm deep are embedded in moist soil and sent to the cold. Ideally, the planting container is taken out into the open air and sprinkled with snow, which will maintain optimal humidity and prevent future seedlings from freezing.

In early March, the container is placed in a warm place, in the light, but not in direct sunlight. At a temperature of 18–19 ºC and high humidity, the seeds begin to swell and hatch in 20–25 days.

Caring for bergenia flowers after planting involves watering and carefully loosening the soil around the seedlings. If the tunnels are too dense, they are thinned out, leaving one plant per 3–5 cm.

45–55 days after sowing, the young plants dive, spreading them apart from each other at a distance of at least 6–7 cm. By June, you can decide on the place where to plant the bergenia. But before this, the seedlings are hardened off, gradually increasing the period of stay of the boxes with seedlings in the fresh air. In the first half of summer, the strongest seedlings are brought into the ground. The rest are transplanted in August.

Planting bergenia in open ground and caring for plants

The root system of bergenia is located close to the soil surface, so you should not make large, deep holes. It is enough to scoop 6–8 cm of soil and pour a little sand into the bottom of the hole as drainage. Since the plant will gradually expand its boundaries and grow, the interval between holes is made at least 40 cm. After planting, the soil is compacted and watered.

If most perennials bloom the next year after planting in the ground, then bergenia is in no hurry to show its inflorescences to the summer resident. The first buds are formed only after 2–3 years, but the bergenia is already forming daughter rosettes.

This is an excellent planting material that can be easily separated from adult plants in the summer, after flowering and before the first days of September. The rhizomes of such divisions are located almost below the surface of the soil or protrude above it, and even a beginner can cope with digging them out.

The plant must be divided so that at least three healthy buds remain on the root cutting. Leaves are cut off from the seedlings, leaving a pair of the strongest ones. Planting is carried out to a depth of 3 to 5 centimeters. To ensure that the bergenia has room to grow, a gap of at least 30 centimeters is left between future plants. In the first month, feeding is not needed, but it should be regular and plentiful.

With proper care, bergenia planted in open ground blooms a year earlier than seedlings, that is, in the second or third year after the start of independent life.

When to replant bergenia? This plant can grow in one place for a very long time and without visible problems. Therefore, transplantation is undertaken when required:

• limit the growth of bergenia on the site;
• on the contrary, obtain planting material for propagation from adult plants.

Uncontrolled spreading of plantings leads to their excessive density, which is fraught with diseases and the accumulation of pests.

Problems with growing and caring for bergenia

Most often, fungal diseases caused by overcrowding and high humidity occur on bergenia. Signs of such infections appear on the leaves in the form of brown or whitish spots, blackening or tissue necrosis.

The affected leaf blades dry out and the disease grows. You can cope with the trouble when growing and caring for bergenia:

• spraying with systemic fungicides;
• establishing care and watering regime;
• vacuum plantings to organize fresh air flow to the bases of the outlets.

Among the pests that damage the plant are slugs and slobbering pennies. While insects can be controlled with insecticide treatments, worms pose a greater threat. Plants affected by them are dug up and destroyed to prevent the spread of the nematode. The area where bergenia grew is repeatedly treated with insecticides against soil pests, and then left fallow until next year.

Preparing garden bergenia for winter

Bergenias are frost-resistant, but in winters with little snow, some cultivated varieties may freeze. To prevent the curtain from looking bare in the spring and then not being restored for several years, it is recommended to insulate young plants that have not had time to fully acclimatize. This can be done using a thick layer, for which fallen and dried leaves, spruce branches, and high-moor peat are used.

Planting and growing bergenia - video