If you go looking for hidden treasure in the garden, you might well come across a Bergenia or two. Their reputation for growing in shade often means they are consigned to dark corners or tucked under large shrubs where soil is bone dry. They may tolerate these difficult conditions, but will rarely look their best and so are often dismissed as untidy and uninteresting - but in fact, versatile as they are, bergenias offer much more. There is a wealth of choice to begin with, something to suit every garden, and this hard-working plant will earn its space with the robust presence of its leaves, in some cases warmed by red winter tints. Abundant displays of spring blooms that are classy and colourful should also give gardeners serious pause for thought about hiding them away.
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