How big does Heartleaf bergenia grow?

About 60 cm × 90 cm after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 30–60 cm × 30–90 cm.

What soil does Heartleaf bergenia grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous, acidic.

Is Heartleaf bergenia hardy?

Hardy down to -40 °C (USDA zone 3, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is Heartleaf bergenia toxic to children?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to children.

How much water does Heartleaf bergenia need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

How much does Heartleaf bergenia cost?

It sells for roughly HUF 1,200 to HUF 3,700 in local shops, depending on size.

Heartleaf bergenia

Bergenia cordifolia

Heartleaf bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia) is a perennial that reaches 60 cm × 90 cm after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade, shade. Hardy down to -40 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Non-toxic to children. Sold in local shops from about HUF 1,200.

Illustration of Heartleaf bergenia — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

Its large, round, leathery, glossy leaves stay all year and flush burgundy and bronze in the cold, and in early spring it carries clusters of pink flowers on stout stems. The undemanding, slowly spreading clumps make a good edging and ground cover in part shade and under trees, and it also copes with sun as long as the soil does not dry out completely. Late frost can take the early flowers, and leaves browned by the end of winter are worth picking off.

Watch out for

It is tough and has no serious diseases. Vine weevil adults notch the leaf edges and their larvae eat the roots; slugs and leaf spot also occur. In the hard, snowless winters of Central Europe the foliage can scorch, and early spring frost can damage the flower buds. It does not tolerate waterlogging, and in blazing sun with prolonged drought the leaves burn and dry up.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade, Shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 60 cm × 90 cm
Hardiness: down to -40 °C
Foliage: Evergreen
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D March–May, pink

Group	Perennial
Light	Full sun, Part shade, Shade
Size after 10 years	60 cm × 90 cm
Ultimate size	30–60 cm × 30–90 cm
Hardiness	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	March–May, pink
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	35 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic
Typical price	from about HUF 1,200

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. HUF 1,200 – HUF 3,700

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Ground cover plants for shade Ground cover plants Plants for shade Perennials for part shade Perennials for full sun Perennials for clay soil Plants that are non-toxic to children Evergreen plants Perennials for pollinators Plants for containers Low-maintenance perennials Plants with autumn colour

Looks good next to it

Coast leucothoe

Leucothoe axillaris

Barren strawberry

Waldsteinia ternata

New Zealand hair sedge

Carex comans