This perennial has a thick rhizome and forms a clumping habit. It has large dark green rounded leathery leaves and the rose-pink bell-shaped flowers appear in a cluster above the foliage on a slender stem from late winter to early spring. 

Hardiness zones 5 to 10

Bergenia x schmidtii is naturally found growing in the foothills of the Himalayas in along water courses or on moist rocky hillsides. 

It prefers a well drained, organic rich reliably moist light soil that is tending acidic with a pH 6.1-7 and grows in a semi shaded to sunny protected position and is and mildly frost resistant but drought tender.

Bergenia is attractive leafy perennial that is grown for its flowers, foliage and spreading habit. It is used as a low edging plant in park or gardens or grown in moist rockeries. It is also suitable for pots and tubs and establishes from division in 3 to 4 years. It is mass planted as a ground cover and the flowers are cut for floral arrangements. Large clumps are slow to establish but are long lived and prefer a shady damp undisturbed position. ID 26

Bergenia (ber-GEN-ee-a) x schmidtii (SHMIT-ee-eye)

“Bergenia” commemorates German botanist Karl von Bergen; “schmidtii” possibly commemorative of the originator of this hybrid.

Saxifragaceae (saks-ih-frag-AY-see-ee)
Saxifrages, Astilbes, Elephant’s Ears