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Big glossy elephant ears, 28 Sept 2026
Bergenia (elephant's ears)
Bergenia (tbc)
Big, glossy, rounded leaves, which is where the 'elephant's ears' nickname comes from. The leaves often turn red in winter, and pink flowers pop up in early spring. Tough as old boots.
Part of the kitchen bed, planted out in spring 2026.
- Common name
- Bergenia (elephant's ears)
- Section
- Beds
- Spot
- Garden (kitchen bed)
- Soil
- Garden soil (tbc)
- Options
Potential
Evergreen foliage for border edges or a container, with broad leaves providing contrast beside finer plants.
- From
- Grown on from online plugs, or bought from a local independent garden centre, spring 2026
- Age
- About 2 years
- Next repot
- Not needed: it's in the ground
- Edible
- ❌ Not for eating.
- Hardy
- ✅ Fully
- Garden-centre price
- about £8
Did you know?
Nicknamed "pigsqueak", after the noise the leaves make when rubbed between your fingers.
Care & updates
- What to expect
- Evergreen: the big leaves stay all winter, often turning red or bronze in the cold. Pink flowers in early spring, then it spends the rest of the year looking leathery. Flowers Mar–Apr.
- Feeding
- Every 28 days, Apr–Aug, with Balanced liquid feed, half strength
No updates yet.
🎮
Mega Drive moment
The Jungle Book (Mega Drive)
Colonel Hathi's elephant patrol would feel right at home.
Look it up →