MBN 1Gal Bergenia crassifolia (schmidtii)

This is a great plant! This is the really ubiquitous, colorful, lavender pink Bergenia we see blooming heavily and continuously all over yards during fall, winter, and spring, from at least Portland all the way down through San Diego. I suspect what we are seeing is actualy a hybrid called B. x schmidtii, because I have seen it labeled as such at Strybing Arboretum. In support of that "hybrid" theory I never seen it set seed. I had wanted to sell it for years, but could never find the genuine article, so eventually I just peeled up a patch from my own back yard and started working up the numbers. Some vendors say they list this, but the whole issue is completely and hopelessly confused in the trade. What is really offered is always B. cordifolia in its various selections. That is an okay plant, but clearly inferior for much of the West Coast to this, the genuine article. They are easy to tell apart, since B. cordifolia is a chunkier plant that blooms only in spring and summer, and it almost always sets seed. The real deal blooms reliably through our often continuously cold, wet, soggy winter weather, and generally brings cheer and color when little else in the garden. sterile. It is drought tolerant enough to thrive along the coast with no summer watering, and will expand slowly by extending coarse, above-ground stems to form large colonies in old heirloom gardens when undisturbed. Divisions have been passed over back fences for generations. It grows to about 12" tall and spreads at a slow to moderate pace. Full sun to mostly shade, not picky about soil, very drought tolerant. Incredibly, snails and slugs mostly leave it alone, which is probably why there is so much of it. Limited quantities, always! Buy it when you see it available. Bloom time is usually September-October through April but flowers can initiate on mature rosettes at any time of year given enough time at ~50F temps with any amount of daylight. Frost hardy to Sunset zone 5 or lower/USDA zone 8b.