Content
Bergenia Bressingham White is a lush plant with bright green foliage that immediately catches the eye in the flower bed. At the same time, it does not require special care, so even a novice gardener can grow it.
Description
The evergreen herbaceous plant bergenia belongs to the Saxifraga family. It also has another, unofficial name - “Elephant Ears”, which it received due to its large, fleshy leaves.
One of the popular varieties is Bressingham White. The root system is well developed and located close to the soil surface. During the flowering period, long peduncles 20-50 cm high with numerous glass-shaped buds are formed. The diameter of the flowers is 2-3 cm, and the color, depending on the variety of bergenia, can be from white to rich pink-lilac. Flowering begins in early spring, immediately after the snow melts, and lasts about 1.5 months.
Partial shade is preferable for bergenia.
With the onset of autumn, the leaves of the flower acquire a reddish color.Darkened bergenia leaves left after wintering can be used to prepare aromatic tea, which has a number of beneficial properties. It is used to normalize blood pressure, improve the functioning of the digestive system, cleanse blood vessels and stimulate the immune system.
History of the hybrid
In the wild, bergenia can most often be found in Asia - it grows in Mongolia, Kazakhstan, China, Altai and a number of other regions. Many varieties are found only in a limited area and are listed in the Red Book.
Breeders' interest in this flower arose in the 18th century. Most of the hybrids were obtained on the basis of wild-growing bergenia. As a result, botanists were able to develop specimens with more lush foliage and larger flowers compared to the original plant.
The bergenia variety “Bressingham” is no exception, which was bred by English scientists and received its name in honor of the plant nursery in Norfolk, where the selection work was carried out.
Bergenia varieties Bressingham
The bergenia hybrid "Bressingham" includes several varieties that are distinguished by their compact size and large dense inflorescences. The main difference between them is the color of the flowers and leaves.
White
The Bressingham White variety is one of the most popular and common bergenias planted in flower beds. Its height is about 30 cm. The leaves are rich green in color and form a dense rosette. The flowers are white in color and collected in lush inflorescences. Flowering period is May-June. Has high frost resistance.
"Bressingham White" flowers have bell-shaped inflorescences
Ruby
Bergenia "Ruby" got its name due to its bright pink inflorescences and the color of the leaves - it is bright green in the center and turns red at the edges. The height of the plant is 35-40 cm. The rhizome is thick aboveground, about 1 m long. In early spring, vertical peduncles appear, on which lush flowers bloom a little later. Flowering lasts about 3 weeks.
The Ruby variety feels most comfortable in slightly shaded areas.
Salmon
The Salmon variety reaches a height of 25-35 cm. It has large leathery leaves, bright green in summer, and by autumn they become purple-burgundy. The flowers are salmon pink, located on dark red stems.
Bressingham Salmon begins to bloom at the end of April.
Beauty
The Beauty variety is a hybrid about 30 cm high. Like other varieties of the variety, Bressingham prefers shaded areas with well-drained soil. The color of the petals is dark pink.
Bressingham Beauty flowering period - May-June
Bantiful
Another not very common, but very beautiful hybrid is “Bantiful”. Its height can reach 40 cm. The flowers, located on high peduncles, have a soft pink color.
The leaves of "Bantiful" are dark green in summer, and become reddish in winter.
Growing from seeds
Growing Bressingham White bergenia from seeds is a simple process that requires compliance with certain rules. First of all, you need to know that plant seeds require stratification. To do this, the seeds are sown in specially prepared containers, sprinkled with a layer of snow and, if possible, buried in a snowdrift for 3 months or placed in the refrigerator for the same period (temperature should not exceed 3 °C).Growing seedlings from Bressingham White bergenia seeds includes several stages:
- At the beginning of March, the containers are moved from the refrigerator to a warm place. At a temperature of about +20 °C, sprouts should appear within 20 days.
- After the sprouts form, they must be sprayed regularly, and if they become thickened, they must be thinned out by removing the weakest sprouts with scissors.
- From the beginning of May, seedlings can begin to be hardened by taking them out into the open air, gradually increasing the time.
The Bressingham White bergenia is transplanted into open ground after the night frosts have ended and the temperature at night does not drop below +12 °C.
Planting in open ground
"Bressingham White" is a very unpretentious variety that can grow in almost any region of our country. At the same time, when choosing a place to plant it, you should take into account the climatic conditions of a particular area. If we are talking about arid regions, then a shaded area located under trees or next to buildings is best suited. When planting in the middle zone, where summers are rarely hot, a sunny place will do. In both cases, an excellent solution would be to place the plant next to a pond.
Bergenia "Bressingham White" grows well in light, loose soil. This is explained by the peculiarities of its root system - the rhizome is located near the surface of the soil, and thanks to its looseness, it receives moisture and nutrients in the required volume. You can often notice that the rhizome has come out, so the ground around the flower needs to be mulched, this is especially true in sunny, unshaded areas. At the same time, the composition of the soil for Bressingham White is not so important - moisture plays a more significant role, which should not be excessive.
Planting in open ground begins in June, when there is no longer a threat of night frosts. The seedlings are placed in pre-prepared holes 7-8 cm deep. Sand or pebbles can be poured into the bottom of the holes as drainage.
After transplanting, the bergenia must be watered generously.
For the first time after transplantation, the flowers can be covered with non-woven material to protect them from wind and sunlight.
Care
Caring for Bressingham White is very easy due to its unpretentiousness. It should be remembered that the flower does not grow well in dry soil, so it requires regular watering.
The lower leaves that have lost their freshness should not be removed - they will help retain moisture in the soil and cover the roots located close to the surface from drying out. If the leaves still spoil the appearance of the plant and you want to remove them, the soil around the bergenia should be sprinkled with mulch.
After flowering has completed in early summer, the flower stalks are cut off if you do not plan to collect seeds. Under favorable climatic conditions, re-blooming is possible at the end of summer.
As it grows, the Bressingham White bergenia densely covers the ground around it with foliage. Therefore, there are practically no weeds nearby, which means no weeding is required.
There is no particular need to apply fertilizers - if there is an excess of fertilizing, the leaves begin to grow stronger, but flowering does not occur. The only exception may be a one-time complex feeding after the end of flowering.
Bergenia "Bressingham White" does not react well to transplants, so it should not be transferred unless absolutely necessary. In one place, bergenia can grow well for more than 10 years.You just have to take into account that, as it grows in width, it can displace other plants from the flowerbed. To avoid this, it is recommended to limit the area with stones or borders.
Diseases and pests
Bergenia is a plant with strong immunity, so it practically does not suffer from diseases and all kinds of pests. The only and most common problem is the invasion of snails and weevils, which can greatly damage the foliage. To prevent this, you should monitor the condition of the plant, and if pests appear, remove them in a timely manner.
Trimming
By the end of autumn, before the onset of frost, old dead leaves should be removed - it is better not to cut them off, but to pull them out along with the cuttings. After winter, it is necessary to remove dried foliage so that it does not interfere with the development of fresh foliage.
After flowering has ended, if you are not tasked with collecting seeds, you can immediately trim off the wilted inflorescences.
Shelter for the winter
Bergenia belongs to frost-resistant crops and can easily withstand temperatures down to -30-40 °C. But it must be taken into account that bergenia can survive the winter well only if there is snow. If a winter with little snow is expected, the roots of the bergenia, which are located near the surface, may freeze. Therefore, it is better to take care of their shelter - dry foliage and spruce branches are suitable for this.
Bergenia leaves begin to turn red in winter
If in winter the temperature does not drop below 10 °C, there is no need to cover the bergenia.
Reproduction
Bressingham White bergenia is very easy to propagate. There are several methods from which you can choose the most suitable:
- Dividing the bush – in spring or autumn, the plant is divided into several parts and planted in different places.This method is also very convenient because it prevents the bergenia from growing and filling the entire flowerbed. This division is recommended to be carried out periodically - once every few seasons.
- Root cuttings – the “Bressingham White” rhizome is divided into several parts of 2-3 cm each and rooted in containers filled with a mixture of sand and peat. After the shoots appear, they are planted in separate pots.
- Cuttings – at the beginning of summer, cut off rosettes with part of the rhizome and several leaves and root them in the ground.
- Seeds – they need stratification, then they are planted in prepared containers. The seedlings are transferred to open ground in early spring, after the end of frost.
Photo in landscape
Bergenia "Bressingham White" and other varieties are excellent for decorating flower beds and garden plots. They look impressive both when planted alone and in a landscape composition.
Badan feels great in elevated sunny areas
Bergenia grows well among stones
Against the background of coniferous plants, bergenia will be a bright accent
"Bressingham White" is suitable for creating stepped landscape solutions, occupying the lower tier under bushes. Thanks to its large, lush foliage, it does not get lost near buildings and garden fences.
Bergenia goes well with hosta and ferns
Conclusion
Bergenia Bressingham White is an unpretentious ornamental plant that is excellent for decorating garden and home areas. It requires minimal care, it practically does not suffer from diseases and pests and tolerates even severe frosts well.At the same time, it looks great both in flower arrangements and when planted separately.
