Collection: Bergenia

Bergenia, or elephant's ears, is tough evergreen ground cover with big, leathery leaves that often turn red or purple in winter.

It's fully hardy, grows in sun, partial or full shade, copes with dry soil and is deer resistant, and its spring flowers are good for bees. Cold wind can scorch the leaves, and frost can spoil the earliest flowers.

Ours is 'Rotblum', in sets of 3 or 6. Plant from March to May or in September and October. Grown peat-free in Yorkshire.