Bergenia (genus, "Himarayayukinoshita")

Japanese name: ヒマラヤユキノシタ
Scientific name: Bergenia

[Overview]
An evergreen perennial 20–40 cm tall.
The rhizome is thick and spreads horizontally.
The leaves are large, ovate-round and thick.
The petioles are thick, with a sheath-like base.
A cymose inflorescence at the tip of a long flower stalk bears many flowers.
The flowers are white to pinkish red.

[Cultivation]
Propagate mainly by division or root cuttings.
It prefers a well-drained place in sun to partial shade.
Flowering is poor in shade.
It prefers a cool environment, so move potted plants to partial shade or shade in summer.
It also tolerates dryness, so it will grow even when planted between stones.
For potted plants, water thoroughly after the soil has dried.
For plants in the garden, watering is unnecessary unless it becomes extremely dry, but in the growing seasons of spring and autumn it grows better and flowers more if it is not allowed to dry out too much.
It dislikes humidity, and poor drainage causes root rot.
Fertilizer is hardly necessary, but to promote growth, apply slow-release fertilizer in the spring and autumn growing seasons.
Pests and diseases include scale insects, slugs and pill bugs.

[Notes]
The scientific name Bergenia stracheyi is properly applied to Himalaya-yukinoshita, but what is currently sold under the name "Himalaya-yukinoshita" refers to the whole genus Bergenia, including hybrid cultivars, so this entry treats it as a collective name.

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