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Bergenia Wikimedia Commons
Saxifragaceae

Bergenia

Bergenia cordifolia

Steadfast endurance.

Family
Saxifragaceae
Genus
Bergenia
Native to
Siberia, Central Asia
Bloom season
Spring
Type
perennial herb
Height
1-1.5 ft
Sunlight
full sun to part shade
Soil
moist, well-drained, humus-rich
Water
moderate
Hardiness
3-8
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Bergenia is nicknamed 'pigsqueak' because rubbing the leathery leaves between your fingers produces a squeaking sound.
  • The leaves turn striking shades of bronze and purple in winter, providing year-round garden interest.
  • In Siberia and Mongolia, fermented bergenia leaves are brewed into a traditional tea called 'chigir tea.'
  • The genus was named after German botanist Karl August von Bergen in the 18th century.
  • Bergenia is remarkably cold-hardy, surviving temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Color meanings

0

resilience

1

quiet strength

Uses

  • ground cover
  • border planting
  • herbal tea