It’s Meet the Plants Monday!

For this week’s plant, I’ve picked an early-blooming perennial: meet Bergenia cordifolia, also known as Heartleaf Bergenia or Pig-squeak. (The second name supposedly comes from the sound made from rubbing the leaves together – try it and let me know what you think!) It’s native to Siberia and can grow well up to zone 3 – for reference, we in Milwaukee are in zone 5B.

This plant has two attractions: dark pink flowers as early as April, and thick large-textured foliage that is green with tinges of bronze and maroon. Bergenia is somewhat evergreen, meaning it provides interest year-round and does not need cutting back in fall. Simply remove any dead or ragged-looking leaves in spring.

It works well as a groundcover, edging, or woodland garden plant, providing a function similar to a hosta in terms of foliage. Expect these to expand to around 18″ wide with a height of 12-18 inches. Site where the plant gets plenty of spring sunshine, but receives some shade in the height of summer.

I like Bergenia for its early color, large leaves, and because it can adapt to a number of light conditions, including shady spots. It’s also deer and rabbit resistant.

Bergenia cannot tolerate hot dry conditions, and the leaves can scorch in direct summer sun.