Preferences:

A Siberian perennial that prefers full sun or partial shade and is adaptive to all soil types.

Cultural Practices:

Propagation - Soak seeds for twelve hours before sowing to breakdown the seed coat. Sow in late February at 14 - 18 degrees for 30 - 90 days. They may take as long as 3 years to flower. Clump division is better in spring although it is recommended in fall. I find that they are very easy to plant but also are easy to dislodge. They have a week root system so that when you are trying to clean around them it is very easy to break off a branch.

Culture - DO NOT CUTBACK IN FALL - the plant will have very small leaves during the summer then. The leaves will turn a leathery colour in the fall and through the winter and then spring up one day in April and then put out flowers. The older leaves will eventually turn brown and can be removed in May.

Landscape Value:

Other plants - Bergenia crassifolia has leaves that are more ovate and the whole plant is smaller looking than B cordifolia.

Bergenia purpurascens has leaves that are more elliptical and the flowers are dark pink. In the fall, the leaves get a red mahogany colour. The flowers are not as tight but you don't grow this plant for its flowers.

Use - This is a groundcover and when kept in a small patch looks very tidy. The texture is rough and when used in a sweep in front of irises or daylilies it will neaten the area providing a balance. When planting though ensure there are no rhizomatous weeds (Quack grass, Canada thistle, toad flax etc.) as it will be difficult to treat because this is an evergreen.