Bergenia ‘Bressingham White’

Bergenia 'Bressingham White' (Bergenia cordifolia 'Bressingham White') is the evergreen groundcover for the shady, awkward strip nothing else will hold. It forms a low clump about 40cm tall and 60cm across, with broad leathery leaves that stay green all year, and sends up sprays of white bells that age to soft pink in late winter and spring. It asks almost nothing once it is in.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers when little else does. The white bells open in late winter, filling the gap before the spring perennials wake up.
• Evergreen, so the bed never goes bare. Those thick paddle shaped leaves hold through winter and take on bronze tints in cold weather.
• Tough where conditions are poor. Frost hardy, drought tolerant once established and content in thin, poor soil under trees.
• Genuinely low maintenance. Pull the spent flower stems, tidy old leaves in spring, and that is the year's work.

Where it works best

Groundcover and mass planting. Plant 50cm apart for a dense groundcover. The leaves overlap into a continuous cover at that spacing and suppress most weeds within two seasons.

Borders and edging. The bold rounded foliage is a useful contrast against fine leaved grasses and ferns, and it holds a clean line along a path.

Pots and containers. One clump fills a 300mm pot on a shaded verandah, and the winter flowers give a container something to do out of season.

Growing Bergenia 'Bressingham White' in Australia

Position and climate. Partial shade is ideal, and it will take morning sun. This is a plant for cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens: Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, Perth and the tablelands. Frost does not trouble it. In subtropical and tropical gardens the humidity rots the crowns, so it is not the right choice north of the border.

Soil. Almost any soil that drains. It grows in poor and rocky ground where richer plants fail, though a little compost improves the leaf size. Avoid spots that puddle after rain.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer while the roots take hold, then only in long dry spells. A handful of slow release fertiliser in early spring is enough for the year.

Pruning. Cut flower stems at the base when they finish. Remove tatty outer leaves in early spring, and lift and divide congested clumps every four or five years to keep them flowering well.

What to expect when it arrives

It is supplied as tube stock, so expect a small young plant with two or three leaves rather than a full clump. Tubes are the sensible way to buy a groundcover, because you need enough plants to cover the area and small ones establish faster than divisions.

Plan on a full season before the clumps touch and a second before the cover reads as solid. Water in well and mulch lightly between plants, keeping the mulch off the crowns. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read our guide to the best ground cover plants for shade.
• Browse other groundcover plants.
• See what else suits a partly shaded position.
• Find companions among perennials for a cottage garden.

Common questions

How many plants do I need?

At 50cm spacing, roughly four plants per square metre. For an edging strip a single staggered row is enough; for a bed, plant in a grid so the clumps knit from every direction.

Will it grow in full sun?

It prefers partial shade. In full sun the leaves scorch at the edges over summer, particularly in Adelaide and Perth. Morning sun with afternoon shade is the sweet spot.

Does it really cope with dry shade under trees?

Yes, once established, which is its main use. Give it regular water for the first summer, because it needs to get its roots down before it can compete with tree roots.