Heart-leaf bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia)

Heart-leaf bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia) is a perennial plant that can grow 50cm – 1.5m tall and 50cm – 1.5m wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Heart-leaf bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia).

This plant is commonly known as heart-leaf bergenia.

This is a evergreen plant that takes 2-5 years to reach full maturity.

Plant profile

Common name: heart-leaf bergenia
Scientific name: Bergenia cordifolia
Plant type: Perennials
Habit: Bushy
Height: 50cm – 1.5m
Spread: 50cm – 1.5m
Foliage: Evergreen
Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial shade
Soil: Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Moist but well drained
Garden type: City & Courtyard Gardens, Informal Garden
Planting type: Flower borders and bedding, Ground Cover
Other characteristics: Plants for pollinators

Seasonal colors

How to plant Heart-leaf bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia) – Christian Hummert (Ixitixel), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Perennial plants are one of the largest groups of plants.

They offer color, shape, fragrance and seasonal textures. The variety is such that there are plants to suit all sizes and styles of garden.

Traditionally, perennials are grown in borders, using a wall or hedge as a backdrop to bring out all their splendor during summer.

But since most gardens are not large enough for long borders dedicated exclusively to perennials, they are usually planted in mixed borders and beds, along with shrubs, annuals, biennials, and bulbs that extend the season of interest.

How to plant

In this section we will learn how to plant Heart-leaf bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.

Soil

Heart-leaf bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia) is a plant that adapts to all types of soils, chalk, clay, loam or sand.

• The chalky soil is pale and contains chunks of calcium-rich rock. It is a fertile and well-draining soil, almost always alkaline.

• Clay soil is composed of more than 25 percent clay particles. These particles have a high moisture holding capacity and the soil is heavy to dig and can be waterlogged in winter (dry in summer).

• The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.

• Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.

It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.

Regarding drainage, Bergenia cordifolia likes to grow in moist but well drained soil.

Sunlight

Heart-leaf bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia) is a plant that should be grown in full sun or partial shade positions.

Cultivation profiles – Growing Heart-leaf bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia) – MOs810, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons