Bergenia ciliata (Haw.) Sternb.
A deciduous species native to W. Pakistan, S. Kashmir and S.W. Nepal. It is commonly found growing in wet or dry rocks and cliffs, shale slopes, and forests from 900-3000m. It has orbicular or broadly ovate, densely and coarsely hairy leaves with a strongly ciliate, sparsely denticulate or shallowly sinuous or crenate margin. In early spring, dense clusters of faintly fragrant, white flowers become blushed pink or deepen with age to red or pink.
Many different forms of B. ciliata can be found growing in cultivation today. Two main forms that have been historically accepted are B. ciliata f. ciliata and B. ciliata f. ligulata. The former is said to be rarely cultivated with Yeo reporting on forms growing at Kew (1819), Chiswick (1846) and Cambridge (1884). Currently Kew holds two forms which were accessioned in 1969 and 1973, and Cambridge holds one from 1958. The name B. ciliata f. ligulata is now considered a synonym of B. pacumbis and is commonly available in cultivation.
Bergenia ciliata f. ciliata
A distinctive ciliata form with a strongly dentate margin, blushed red. A feature shared by the B. ciliata var. ciliata collected by Tony Schilling in Nepal.
The hairs on this form are much coarser than other ciliata, appearing more prominent and erect on the leaf margin and evenly distributed across the upper and lower leaf lamina. It has an unusual slightly more leathery texture, a feature often found in the evergreen species than in ciliata and pacumbis. Highly attractive, pure white, scented flowers open in early spring.
In the order beds at Cambridge, it displayed a low growing habit with short, upright leaves. However, cuttings received from the garden produced much larger, more rounded leaves when potted up in a free draining growing media, indicating its growth may have been stunted in the open, exposed conditions.
