It is Bergenia. Even with flowers it would needs an expert to tell what variety, cultivar or hybrid it is. In Britain the common name is Elephants ears. http://images.google.com/images?q=b...1I7SUNA_en-GB&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergenia
Silver Surfer, i have never heard of Bergenia being related to Aroids or Calocasia before. I know Elephant Ears seems to cover a multitude of sins these days but they hardly have the look of elephant ears do they? I didnt know that they were classed as that in the UK. Nath
, Nath, that is why I said Bergenia were known as Elephants ear's in Britain. It is another odd common name that can be/is misleading. They are not connected in any shape or form to Aroids or Calocasia. Maybe it is a generation thing, another British quirk!!!! From childhood I have known them by this silly name. http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/4126.shtml http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...rs bergenia&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=iw&start=0
There are three species in cultivation around here (nic cvs or var.): B. cordifolia, B. crassifolia, and B. ciliata. It is quite useful as a part shade, spreading, evergreen. As it needs regular water, it might fall out of favor in the years to come. Google has another, B. ligulata, which appears to be a medicinal plant. My best guess is that you have either crassifolia or cordifolia. According to the literature they are hardy to zone 3. Elephants ear is a common name in the US too, as is PIGSQUEAK. That said, I have not heard either of these names being used.
In Britain Bergenia purpurescens and Bergenia stracheyi are also common and readily available. B. emiensis and B.agavifolia are available from more specialist nurseries. As well as the B. cordifolia etc. Not to mention dozens of named cultivars and hybrids. We grow many in our garden. But I have still to learn how to tell one from another. Bergenia ciliata is easy to id with the hairy leaves. From a pic of just the leaves I wouldn't know which to suggest.
Well Silversurfer you learn something new everyday, I guess you are right and it must be a British thing. i would never in a million years of associated bergenia with the Elephant Ears that I know. Thanks for the education. Isn't that the beauty of this forum? I shall have to look into Bergenia's and their different varieties some more. Right now I have some Euphorbias that were given to me that I need to identify, there are so many different varieties of those too. i may post some pictures at the weekend. Nath
SilverSurfer those are lovely plants in your picture, I will definatly have to look further into those. Most of the plants I grow are exotics of one form or other. Nath
