Eden's Dark Margin Elephant's Ears

Eden's Dark Margin Elephant's Ears (Bergenia cordifolia 'Eden's Dark Margin') is a low, clumping evergreen perennial, about 30cm high and 40cm wide, with big rounded leaves and clusters of deep pink flowers in spring. The green leaves flush dark wine purple in autumn. It is a set and forget plant that thrives where many others struggle, including dry shade.

Why you'll love it

• Bold leaves all year. Large rounded evergreen leaves hold their shape through every season and cover the ground well.
• Wine purple autumn colour. As temperatures drop the foliage develops a maroon wine flush that lasts into winter.
• Generous spring flowers. Plum pink stems carry clusters of deep pink bells, and the flowers are a useful early nectar source for pollinators.
• Hardy and drought tolerant. It is frost hardy, drought tolerant and happy to grow under trees.
• Almost any soil. It grows in chalk, clay, sand, dry soil or damp, in exposed or sheltered sites.

Where it works best

Borders and mass planting. Plant 35cm apart for a dense mass. The clumps knit into a continuous leafy edge at the front of a bed.

Under trees and in part shade. The big leaves cover bare ground beneath trees, and the plant still flowers in dry shade.

Pots and potted colour. A single plant in a container gives spring flowers and autumn colour with almost no effort.

Growing Eden's Dark Margin Elephant's Ears in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade. It is frost hardy and drought tolerant, and suits cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens. In hot, humid summers it is less at home, so give it shade and sharp drainage there.

Soil. Any good garden soil. It tolerates chalk, clay, sand, and both dry and wet ground.

Water and feed. Water regularly while it establishes, then it needs little. It is hardy and low maintenance, and feeding is rarely required.

Pruning. Remove tattered leaves and spent flower stems if you want a neater look. Lift and divide the clumps when they get too large, and replant the pieces as new plants.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Eden's Dark Margin Elephant's Ears as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives as a small plant with a few leaves, and it bulks into a clump over the first couple of seasons. Plant it soon after delivery and water it in well.

Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the tube shows as sold out, the grower has none ready, and the notify button on this page emails you the day it is back.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Low maintenance groundcovers
• Plants for partial shade
• Frost hardy plants
• The best groundcovers for shade

Common questions

Will Eden's Dark Margin grow in shade?

Yes. It grows in full sun to part shade and flowers even in dry shade under trees.

How do I divide it?

When a clump gets too large, lift it, split it into pieces that each have roots, and replant them. Each piece grows into a new plant.

When does it flower?

In spring, when plum pink stems carry clusters of deep pink bell flowers above the leaves.