Bergenia x smithii ‘Cascade’

A Thomas Smith variety raised at Daisy Hill Nursery, Newry, Co. Down. It was used by Yeo as the original (type) clone of B. x newryensis (1962) as 'It now seems unlikely it can identified as one of Smith’s cultivars.' This name, however, is now considered a synonym of B. x smithii.

Interestingly, descriptions of the flowers provided by Yeo for B. x smithii and B. x newryensis differ from one another. The former is described as 'rich carmine' and the latter as 'orchid-purple to petunia-purple'. Further investigation into the morphological differences between these plants is required to determine if B. 'Cascade' can be separated as a cultivar.

Material was generously shared with me by Brendan Sayers of the Irish Garden Plant Society who received material from Cambridge University Botanic Garden, who have held material of the plant since at least 1958.