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Bergenia purpurascens - (Hook.f.&Thoms.)Engl.

Common Name
Family Saxifragaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats On rocks and open slopes, 3600 - 4700 metres. in the Himalayas[51]. Forests, scrub, alpine meadows and alpine rock crevices at elevations of 2700 - 4800 metres in western China[266].
Range E. Asia - Himalayas to China.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Bergenia purpurascens


http://flickr.com/photos/jim-sf/2523213047
Bergenia purpurascens

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Bergenia purpurascens is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in) by 0.3 m (1ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from March to May. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Ground Cover;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antiseptic  Astringent  Styptic  Tonic

The root is astringent, styptic, tonic[61, 91, 218]. A safe and effective treatment for chronic bronchitis[218]. It is also used in the treatment of giddiness and general physical feebleness[61, 91]. Extracts of the plant are antiseptic[218]. The plant is a source of the drug bergenin[266].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

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Other Uses

A useful ground cover plant, though rather slow to spread[197]. Plants form clumps[208].

Special Uses

Ground cover

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in full sun or light shade in most soils[134, 200] but prefers a deep fertile soil that does not dry out fully[134]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Plants are at their best in a medium-heavy soil[208]. Requires a position sheltered from cold drying winds and from the early morning sun. The leaf colour is best when plants are grown in a poor soil in a sunny position[188]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[187]. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[K]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233]. The different species of this genus will hybridise freely when grown near each other[233].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - surface sow in a greenhouse. Make sure that the compost does not dry out. Two weeks cold stratification can speed up germination which usually takes 1 - 6 months at 15°c[134]. Fresh seed, sown as soon as it is ripe in late spring is liable to germinate better than stored seed. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in late spring after flowering[188] or in autumn[200]. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted straight into their permanent positions whilst smaller clumps are best potted up and kept in a cold frame until they are growing away well.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: China (Sichuan Sheng (southwest), Xizang Zizhiqu, Yunnan Sheng (north)) TROPICAL ASIA: Bhutan, India (northeast), Nepal, Myanmar (north)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Bergenia ciliata Perennial0.3 6-9  LMHSNM123
Bergenia cordifoliaSiberian-tea, Pigsqueak, Heartleaf BergeniaPerennial0.3 3-9 MLMHFSNM003
Bergenia crassifoliaSiberian TeaPerennial0.3 3-7  LMHFSNM203

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Hook.f.&Thoms.)Engl.

Botanical References

51200266

Links / References

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