From the Biggar Bothy

Bergenias – commonly known as elephant ears – easy to grow but do they thrive? They mainly sulk in my garden, Pam’s too, and don’t do as they are meant. That is, except for Bergenia ‘Claire Maxine’.

It is truly elephant-eared, a lush green in summer, and in winter the leaves turn a rich pinky green with bright pink undersides.

There are bright pink flowers in Summer, which are a bonus but not really necessary.

Any others I have tried look more like a raggedy cat’s ear that’s been in a scrap. Perhaps I’m growing them in the wrong place. Claire Maxine is growing in a shady, sheltered free draining loam.

Jasmin Cann