Bergenia ‘Schneekuppe’

The last named Bergenia to be introduced by the state-owned Foerster nursery in 1985. A cordifolia variety with attractive white flowers held in dirty green calyces, atop a red stem, slowing changing to pink with age. Elegant branching inflorescence. Bright green foliage has a prominent pink margin, slightly wavy, becoming more rounded with age.

Following the death of Karl Foerster, the nursery was taken over by the state and the breeding of Bergenia continued until privatisation in 1991. The starting material was Bergenia cordifolia with selection criteria based on early flowering, flower size, branching of the inflorescence and vigour. Unfortunately, winter colour of the foliage was not included. Many of the varieties distributed during the GDR by the Foerster nursery gradually disappeared from the range following privatisation.