Bergenia ‘Sunshade’

An old cultivar believed to have been introduced by Barr and Sons in Covent Garden, London in 1902. There has been some speculation that Thomas Smith selected it at Daisy Hill Nurseries in Newry, Ireland but there is no evidence of it in the nursery catalogues.

It has rather unremarkable cordifolia-like foliage with no winter interest. You should, however, grow it for its camp bright pink flowers which steal the show in the category of pink flower cultivars. An excellent cut flower.

Unfortunately, no longer available in trade but can be seen in specialist collections and gardens, such as RHS Wisley.