Bergenia ciliata
| Bergenia ciliata | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Early Spring-Late Spring |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Bergenia ciliata
Propagation: Seed - surface sow in a greenhouse. Make sure that the compost does not dry out. Two weeks cold stratification can speed up germination which usually takes 1 - 6 months at 15°c[1]. Fresh seed, sown as soon as it is ripe in late spring is liable to germinate better than stored seed. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division in late spring after flowering[2] or in autumn[3]. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted straight into their permanent positions whilst smaller clumps are best potted up and kept in a cold frame until they are growing away well.
Cultivation: Succeeds in full sun or light shade in most soils[3] but prefers a deep fertile soil that does not dry out fully[1]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Plants are at their best in a medium-heavy soil[4]. Succeeds in shade or semi-shade-[5]. The leaf colour is best when plants are grown in a poor soil in a sunny position[2]. Dislikes cold winds[6].
The plant is hardy to about -20°c, but the flowers and young leaves are rather sensitive to frost[5] so it is best to choose a position with shade from the early morning sun. This species is only hardy in sheltered gardens of south and west Britain[4]. If the leaves are cut back by frost then they are soon replaced by fresh leaves in the spring[2].
The roots of this plant are commonly collected from the wild for medicinal purposes. Overcollection in many areas of its range are a cause for conservation concern[7].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[8].
The different species of this genus will hybridise freely when grown near each other[8].
Range: E. Asia - Himalayas from Afghanistan to E. Tibet.
Habitat: On moist rocks and under forest shade, 1900 - 2600 metres in Kashmir[9].
Edibility: The flowers are boiled and then pickled[7].
Medicinal: A juice or powder of the whole plant is used to treat urinary troubles in Nepal[7].
The juice of the leaves is used as drops to relieve earaches[7].
The root is used as a tonic in the treatment of fevers, diarrhoea and pulmonary affections[10][11][12]. The root juice is used to treat coughs and colds, haemorrhoids, asthma and urinary problems[7]. Externally, the root is bruised and applied as a poultice to boils and ophthalmia, it is also considered helpful in relieving backache[12][7]. The root of this plant has a high reputation in indigenous systems of medicine for dissolving stones in the kidneys[11].
Usage: The root contains 14 - 16% tannin[7].
A good ground cover plant[2], forming a slowly spreading clump[4][8].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Heavy Clay: Grows in heavy-clay soils.
Also Known As: B. ligulata. Megasea ciliata. Saxifraga ciliata. S. thysanodes.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Rice, Graham. Growing from Seed Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan, 1988.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Thomas, Graham. Plants for Ground Cover. Everyman, 1990.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ Napier, Elspeth. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells, 1989.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 Manandhar, Narayan. Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press, 2002.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ Singh, Gurcharan and Premnath Kachroo. Forest Flora of Srinagar. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, 1976.
- ↑ Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Manandhar, N. Medicinal Plants of Nepal Himalaya. Department of Medicinal Plants, 1993.