Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Peppermint Patty Bergenia: Candy-Striped Spring Bells for Part Shade
Save
Peppermint Patty bergenia gives an old-fashioned plant a new look. Its larger-than-average flowers, about 1.25 inches wide, are white with a pink throat that streaks down each petal and a thin pink edge, held in clusters on bright rose pink stems. The effect is candy-striped, and it arrives in early to mid spring when the garden is hungry for color.
The thick, wavy, glossy leaves have prickly toothed edges and stay evergreen, often turning burgundy in cold weather.
Peppermint Patty at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Bergenia 'Peppermint Patty' |
| Flowers | About 1.25 inches, white with pink throat, streaks and edge |
| Foliage | Thick, wavy, glossy green, evergreen; burgundy tones in cold |
| Size | About 22 inches tall in bloom, 16 to 18 inches wide |
| Bloom | Mid-April to early May |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 8 |
| Light | Part shade to full sun with moisture |
| Deer and rabbits | Resistant |
Where it fits in a lavender garden
Bergenia and lavender bloom months apart and like different conditions, which is exactly why bergenia is useful. Lavender is a summer plant for dry, open sun. Peppermint Patty is a spring plant for the partly shaded edges: the walk along the north side of the house, a path under a young tree or the shady end of a border. While the lavender is still a gray mound in April, the bergenia is already in candy-striped bloom.
Its big, glossy leaves also bring bold texture and winter color that a lavender garden lacks. Map out the shady edges in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Light: part shade is easiest. Leaf color is richest with some summer shade, and in full sun the soil must stay evenly moist to prevent scorch.
- Soil: average and well drained with regular moisture.
- Spring cleanup: trim winter-damaged leaves before the flower stalks emerge.
- Dividing: split crowded clumps after flowering every few years.
Four-season value
Bergenia is one of the few perennials that looks good in every season. Spring brings the flowers, summer brings glossy green leaves and cold weather turns the foliage toward burgundy, which looks handsome against snow. It is hardy in Michigan, and the leathery leaves usually stay evergreen through winter.
Edging, groundcover and pots
Use a row as a thick, tidy edging, a group as a groundcover in part shade or one plant in a container by a shaded door. The 72-cell plug tray is sized for edging and groundcover plantings; see the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Why is bergenia sometimes called pigsqueak?
Rubbing a leaf between your fingers can make a squeaking sound. It is a garden party trick that never gets old.
Do the flowers have a scent?
No. Peppermint Patty is grown for its color and leaves, not fragrance.
Share how it went in your field