Bergenia stracheyi (Hook.f. & Thomson) Engl.
A very fine species found in forests and rock crevices in E. Afghanistan, N. India, Kashmir, Nepal, W. Pakistan, Tajikistan and Xizang (or the Tibet Autonomous Region) at 300-4500m. The leaves are generally obovate and glabrous with a variably serrated but rigidly ciliate margin. Smooth, leathery foliage is dark green, occasionally turning purple-red in winter. In spring, loose clusters of pendant, pink-red flowers open atop short, green-pink branching stems.
The species, and its white flowering cultivar B. stracheyi Alba Group, are available for sale from specialist nurseries in the UK, such as Cotswold Garden Flowers, Beth Chatto Plants and Gardens and The Plantsman’s Preference. Wild collections can also be found in the living collections of botanic gardens, such as RBGE, CUBG and Kew.
An aberrant form is said to grow in the Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan area at the western edge of the distribution range of the genus.
Bergenia stracheyi (1983-5014)
A very fine form collected from the valley below the Kolahoi Glacier in Kashmir during the Kashmir Botanical Expedition of 1983. It forms neat rosettes of rounded, obovate, leathery, dark green leaves with a smooth, glabrous leaf surface and a prominent red margin fringed with uniform, white hairs from the base to the apex. In autumn, the leaves turn yellow then red-purple. Very attractive and unusual for its rounded leaves that in other forms are more commonly cuneate.
It can be found growing in the rock garden at RBG Kew.
Bergenia stracheyi Beth Chatto form
Sold by Beth Chatto, this selection forms crowded rosettes of smallish, rounded, leathery, smooth, dark green leaves (slightly more ovate than obovate than the Kew form). The leaves are fringed with short, coarse hairs, however, these aren’t as uniform as other forms. Turning red in the autumn. In spring, short green stems blushed pink carry highly attractive, loose clusters of rose-pink flowers.
Available from Beth Chatto Plants and Gardens.
Bergenia stracheyi Cally Gardens form
Found growing at Cally Gardens, this is a compact form with small, oval to obovate, smooth, leathery, bright green leaves with a prominent pink petiole and ciliate margin, more so towards the base. The leaves turn purple then flame red in autumn. Flowers are yet to be observed.
No information is available on its provenance but it may have been wild collected by Michael Wickenden.
Bergenia stracheyi Dwarf form, Monksilver Nursery
Distributed by Joe Sharman of Monksilver Nursery as a dwarf form of the species. It forms crowded rosettes of oval, spoon-shaped, dark green, leathery leaves with a ciliate margin, turning purple-red in the autumn. The leaves are much less obovate with no cuneate base and slightly elongated compared to other forms. Flowers are yet to be observed.
Bergenia stracheyi CC4609
A rare seed collection from Chris Chadwell producing dense rosettes of strikingly upright, obovate, dark green leaves that are tinged purple-red on the margin before turning a highly attractive flame yellow-red in the autumn. Muddy white flowers emerge from green calyces with a unique pink-red base.
Discovered for sale from Larch Cottage Nurseries but not commonly available. Collected by Chadwell in the north west Himalayas.
