Bergenia

Bergenia (pronounced /bərˈɡɛniə/, with a hard g) is a genus of ten species of flowering plants in the family Saxifragaceae, native to central Asia, from Afghanistan to China and the Himalayan region. They are evergreen perennial plants with a spirally arranged rosette of leaves 6-35 cm long and 4-15 cm broad, and pink flowers produced in a cyme.

The leaves are leathery, look like a heart, and often have wavy or saw-toothed edges. For most of the year, the leaves have a glossy green color, but in cooler climates, they turn red or bronze in the fall.

The flowers grow on a stem similar in color to a rhubarb stalk and most varieties have cone-shaped flowers in varying shades of pink. These can range from almost white to ruby red and purple.

The common name for Bergenia is pigsqueak due to the sound produced when two leaves are rubbed together. Bergenia is closely related to Mukdenia, Oresitrophe Astilboides, and Rodgersia.

The creator of the taxonomic genus epithet, Conrad Moench, honored the German botanist and physician Karl August von Bergen by coining the name Bergenia in 1794.

Bergenia are hardy plants that can grow in climates with extreme temperature ranges from about −35 °F (−37.2 °C) to 115 °F (46 °C). They prefer sun but will grow in shady areas as well. Plants can grow to about 24 in (61 cm) tall and 24 in (61 cm) wide.

They do well in most soils, but moist, humus soil is preferable. Dry soils tend to stunt growth. Plants can be planted in the spring or fall. In areas with cold, strong winter winds, protection from the wind may be required.



Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergenia



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