Bergenia ciliata Ripple Effect - Elephant's Ears

Bergenia 'Ripple Effect' is a deciduous variety of this perennial often planted for its evergreen foliage. The less well-known, deciduous species have very strong aesthetic appeal. This one offers very large, thick, shiny green, wavy and toothed circular leaves, measuring up to 30 cm wide. In early spring, as the foliage emerges, clusters of white to pale pink flowers appear on short, branched panicles. This architectural bergenia appreciates a location in shade or morning sun.

Bergenia 'Ripple Effect' is a herbaceous perennial plant of the saxifrage family. It is a cross between the species Bergenia ciliata and Bergenia pacumbis. Both species are found in the mountains of Central Asia, in the western Himalayas, but also in Afghanistan and Tajikistan, Myanmar, and China. They grow in colonies, cascading down rocky and humid slopes even at very high altitudes. 'Ripple Effect' was selected by Ed Bowen of Issima Nursery. It is a deciduous plant, with a creeping habit, forming tight clumps of vegetation, which can eventually reach up to 70 cm in height and 90 cm wide. It grows on a creeping, thick rhizome enveloped by sheaths from the base of the leaves. Over time, this plant spreads, but its growth is so slow that it can hardly be considered invasive. Secondary stems appear here and there, eventually forming a beautiful mat. Although it takes a bit of time to start, it produces new leaves throughout the growing season, becoming larger with each successive growth, reaching up to 30 cm wide. The tough, glossy leaves, arranged in rosettes, are thick, ovate, wavy, toothed, and edged with hairs. They are very attractive in autumn, when their colour turns red. The rather drooping flowers are clustered in 20 cm tall panicles. Their colour ranges from white to pale lilac pink. They appear from late winter, but bloom in early spring, in March-April.

Bergenia 'Ripple Effect' adapts to many situations and can live for decades without special care, but it thrives in partial shade, in rich, moist and light soil.  Overly dry soils tend to limit growth. It thrives in shade, partial shade or sunny, but not scorching conditions: avoid dense shade where it does not flower and strong sunlight. Cold and poor soils enhance its colours. Plant it in a cool rockery, at the edge of the undergrowth or on a semi-shaded bank alongside Oriental hellebores, hostas, rodgersias, epimediums, brunneras, omphalodes and ferns. To border a pathway, it can be associated with perennial geraniums (Geranium macrorrhizum) or primroses, taking over from their flowering.