Bergenia 'Silberlicht'
elephant's ears (syn. Bergenia Silverlight)
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average to fast
- Flowering period: March to April
- Hardiness: fully hardy
From early to mid spring, white flowers with pink sepals appear on the red-flushed stems, and slowly turn pink as they age. A favourite of plantswoman Beth Chatto, 'Silberlicht' is a robust evergreen, that's great for edging well-trodden paths, or for planting en-masse to create undemanding groundcover.
Plant in a sunny or partially shaded spot with a scoop of organic matter such as well-rotted or bagged compost. Water in well, and keep the area moist until the plant is well established. After flowering remove faded flowerheads, and snip off any tatty or old leaves as and when necessary. Mulch annually to promote growth, and lift and divide large clumps in early spring.