Shoeshine Rose Elephant's Ears

Shoeshine Rose Elephant's Ears (Bergenia cordifolia 'Shoeshine Rose') is a tidy, clumping evergreen perennial, about 30cm high and wide, with rounded deep green leaves that turn plum red in autumn. Deep pink bell flowers appear in abundance in spring. Cold hardy and needing almost no maintenance, it makes a first rate groundcover for tricky spots.

Why you'll love it

• Deep rose spring flowers. Clusters of deep pink bells open in abundance each spring and add early colour.
• Plum red in autumn. The rounded green leaves take on a rich plum red as the weather cools.
• Cold hardy and drought tolerant. It is frost hardy and copes with dry spells once established.
• Flowers in dry shade. It will bloom under trees where few other plants flower.
• No fuss. Once established it needs very little attention.

Where it works best

Groundcover and mass planting. Plant 30cm apart for a dense, continuous cover of leaves. It makes a lush, low carpet that suppresses most weeds as it fills.

Borders and edging. A row at the front of a bed gives bold leaf shapes beside paths and lawns.

Pots. It does well in containers and gives seasonal colour from flowers in spring to leaf colour in autumn.

Growing Shoeshine Rose 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 climates. In hot, humid summers it appreciates shade and good drainage.

Soil. Any good garden soil. Add compost to very poor ground, and keep it out of boggy sites.

Water and feed. Water regularly until established, then leave it to look after itself. It is hardy and low maintenance, so feeding is optional.

Pruning. Remove spent flower stems and tired leaves to keep clumps neat. Lift and divide clumps when they get too large, and replant the divisions elsewhere.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Shoeshine Rose Elephant's Ears as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives small and builds into a clump over the first couple of seasons, so plant groundcover drifts a little closer than you think. Plant soon after delivery and water well.

The tube is supplied by our grower, so availability comes and goes. A sold out tube simply means none is ready today: press the notify button on this page and we will email you the day it returns.

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

• More groundcover plants
• Rockery plants
• Drought tolerant plants
• Shade gardening: what to plant where

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it as a groundcover?

Thirty centimetres apart. At that spacing the clumps meet and cover the ground into a continuous mat of leaves.

Will it grow under trees?

Yes. It flowers in dry shade under trees and is hardy, drought tolerant and low maintenance once established.

When do the leaves colour?

As the weather cools in autumn, the deep green leaves turn plum red.