Re: [SG] dry shade---Bergenia
- To: s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
- Subject: Re: [SG] dry shade---Bergenia
- From: M* T* <m*@CLARK.NET>
- Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 00:23:27 -0500
Well, Claire, had I read down the list a bit before I sent off my moan and
my query, I would have seen your post....what is dreadful is that you're
finding them so easy to grow. Now, you are in zone 4. I wonder if being
much farther north than I am makes any difference in growing this genus?
Any thoughts on this for one whose Bergenia do not grow in crowded clumps
but simply waste away and disappear within a couple of seasons, no matter
whether in dry shade, moist shade, good soil, bad soil, part sun or
whatever?
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
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----------
> From: Claire Peplowski <ECPep@AOL.COM>
> Date: Wednesday, February 24, 1999 11:38 PM
>
> In a message dated 2/24/99 11:13:57 PM Eastern Standard Time,
CCREDUX@AOL.COM
> writes:
>
> << <<Tell us your secret in growing these. I finally gave up! Was I
perhaps
> giving
>
> Here is the dreadful part when you set yourself up as an expert. I have
no
> secret. I have grown them from seed. I have purchased them in the Agway
for
> 99 cents. I have several sorts but I think you would find cordifolia
easiest
> to purchase. This one grows large shiny green leaves, somtimes with a
red
> edge. There are spikes of crowded pink flowers in the spring. In the
fall,
> my plants turn bright red and stay that way until covered by snow.
Bergenia
> grows overtime into many crowned clumps easily divided. It grows here in
the
> most plant unfriendly places and never needs water. A drift of bergenia
under
> the trees or shrubs is very substantial looking. They will be tattered in
> spring and need a few weeks to grow new leaves.
>
> Clyde, where I have fertile, moist shady soil I would never plant
begenia.
> There are so many other plants to try. I would, however, give any plant
> intended for dry shade a very good start in life and continue until you
feel
> it is established.
>
> Bergenia is a tough plant.
>
> <<<<BTW, how is it pronounced? Bur-jen-eee-ah or Bur-gen(hard "g")--ee--
ah
> or
> something else? >>>>
>
> I bet Ms. Jekyll said bur-jen-eee-ah.
>
> Claire Peplowski
> East Nassau, NY
> z4
