Bergenia 'Bressingham Ruby'

Bergenia 'Bressingham Ruby': Ruby Leaves All Winter, Magenta Bells in Spring

Most plants quit in winter. 'Bressingham Ruby' just changes outfits. Glossy evergreen leaves go burgundy-red when the snow shows up, like it saved the good lipstick for the holiday party. FASHIONABLY FROSTBITTEN.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Bergenia hybrid (B. purpurascens x B. cordifolia)
• Common Name: Pigsqueak, Elephant's Ears
• Height: 30–35 cm (12–14 in) in flower
• Spread: 50–60 cm (20–24 in)
• Flowers: Rosy red-purple clusters on short, reddish stems
• Bloom Time: Spring (April to May)
• Foliage: Large, glossy, rounded evergreen leaves. Green in summer, turning deep brown and then burgundy-red in winter.
• Features: Evergreen
• Plant Patent: USPP 7,344 (expired)

Where to Plant: Plant it along the front of a border, at the edge of a path or in a woodland bed, where the bold leaves can be seen up close. A row of it makes a tidy, weed-smothering groundcover. Put it where you can see the winter colour from a window.

Companion Plants: Iris 'Black Joker' adds narrow, upright leaves and purple flowers in May and June, a nice change from the bold, rounded bergenia leaves. Lupinus perennis brings blue spikes at the same time. Monarda bradburiana carries on with pink blooms in May and June. This spring group loves sun to part sun.

Plant Care: Grow it in moist, well-drained soil with some organic matter. It handles clay well. In full sun it needs steady moisture and gives the best winter colour; in part shade it's more forgiving. Water through the first summer. Don't cut it back in fall, since the leaves are the winter show. In spring, snip off any leaves that are torn or browned by winter, and remove flower stems once they finish. Divide in spring or early fall when the clump gets crowded or bare in the middle. Watch for slugs in damp spots.

History: 'Bressingham Ruby' was raised by Alan and Adrian Bloom at Blooms of Bressingham in Norfolk, England, from an open-pollinated seedling of Bergenia purpurascens and B. cordifolia, and patented in the United States in 1990. Its nickname, pigsqueak, comes from the sound two leaves make when rubbed together.

Final Thoughts: Rosy flowers in spring feed the early bees, and the deer give it a pass. Plant it by the front walk. WINTER CURB APPEAL, SORTED.