'Happily Ever After' Pigsqueak (Bergenia)
Perennial
- Charming white blossoms to welcome in the spring season!
- Easy to grow and deer-resistant.
- Thick green foliage looks attractive even after the plant has finished blooming.
- Zones 4-8, sun/part shade/shade, 12" tall x 22" wide at full maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
This pigsqueak is a welcomed addition to garden beds and borders, underplanting of shrubs, cottage gardens, rock gardens, and city gardens. Pigsqueak thrives in almost any amount of sunlight, but partial shade is ideal. It will grow in full sun in northern regions but needs afternoon shade in the south. Plus, It's a true happily ever after when the perennials in your garden are resistant to deer and rabbits.
Details
Common name: Heartleaf Bergenia, Pigsqueak
Zone: 4-8
Sun exposure: Part sun (4-6 hours sun) to shade (>4 hours shade)
Height x width: 10-12" X 18-22"
Flower color: White
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Spring
Bloom time: Early to late spring
Features: Pollinator friendly, early bloomer, deer resistant, rabbit resistant
Uses: Alpine and rock, Container gardening, Edging, Beginner friendly, Ground cover, Massing, Ornamental, Slopes, Small spaces, Cut flowers
How to Grow
Light: Part sun (4-6 hours sun) to shade (>4 hours shade)
Water: Prefers evenly moist but not soggy soil.
Spacing: 18-22 inches.
Fertilizing: Fertilizer needs are low. If you have poor soil, feed during the spring growing season with a light application of slow-release fertilizer.
Winterizing: No specific care is needed. Evergreen in the South but may suffer considerable winter damage in colder climates.
Maintenance & pruning: Remove all damaged foliage from late winter to early spring. Prompt remove spent flowering stems. If needed, divide in spring every 3-4 years. It spreads slowly by rhizomes.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.