Bergenia ‘Bartok’

A highly desirable cultivar selected from a large number of seedlings of B. 'Ballawley' raised by Jim Archibald in the 1970s. It has large, leathery, glossy green leaves with a red, inconsistently ciliate margin. It has the most astonishing winter foliage, turning a deep liver red, on both the upper and lower leaf surface, which lasts well through the season. In spring, clusters of drooping red-pink flowers open well above the foliage.

A robust cultivar with an attractive crowded habit that is well suited to the winter garden for its foliage effect. Rare today but can be found for sale from specialist nurseries, such as Cotswold Garden Flowers and Claire Austin.