Elephant's ears (bergenia) Bergenia cordifolia
Elephant's ears (bergenia) (Bergenia cordifolia) is an evergreen perennial groundcover in the Saxifragaceae family, native to Siberia, Altai and Mongolia. It grows 30–50 cm (12–20 in) tall and 40–60 cm (16–24 in) wide, wants part sun to part shade and moderate water, and is hardy to about -37 °C (-35 °F). Space plants about 50 cm (20 in) apart.
Plan Elephant's ears (bergenia) in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Elephant's ears (bergenia) at a glance
| Type | Perennial groundcover, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Saxifragaceae |
| Mature height | 30–50 cm (12–20 in) |
| Mature spread | 40–60 cm (16–24 in) |
| Spacing | 50 cm (20 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 4 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -37 °C (-35 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 3) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 30 °C (86 °F) |
| Flowering | from about April for 4–6 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Siberia, Altai and Mongolia |
| Common in gardens of | 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
Is Elephant's ears (bergenia) toxic?
- People: not well documented
- Cats: not well documented
- Dogs: not well documented
No toxicity clearly documented in standard references; treat as untested.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Elephant's ears (bergenia)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and moderate water.
See Elephant's ears (bergenia) in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden (12 plants)
Questions about Elephant's ears (bergenia)
- How far apart should I plant Elephant's ears (bergenia)?
- About 50 cm (20 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 40–60 cm (16–24 in).
- Does Elephant's ears (bergenia) need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 4 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Elephant's ears (bergenia) need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Elephant's ears (bergenia)?
- It tolerates about -37 °C (-35 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 3.
- When does Elephant's ears (bergenia) flower?
- From about April for 4–6 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Elephant's ears (bergenia) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not well documented; for dogs not well documented; for people not well documented. No toxicity clearly documented in standard references; treat as untested.
- What grows well with Elephant's ears (bergenia)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Elephant's ears (bergenia). Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Missouri Botanical Garden
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Notes and assumptions
- Leathery leaves often turn bronze or red in winter; early flowers can be frosted.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Astilbe Astilbe x arendsii
- Coral bells (heuchera) Heuchera americana
- Encrusted saxifrage Saxifraga paniculata
- Purple saxifrage Saxifraga oppositifolia
- Foamflower Tiarella cordifolia
- Strawberry begonia (yukinoshita) Saxifraga stolonifera
- Chestnut-leaved rodgersia Rodgersia aesculifolia
- Creeping thyme Thymus serpyllum