Practical
Plants

Bergenia ciliata

a perennial evergreen member of the Bergenia genus in the family Saxifragaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Height
0.3 m
Spread
0.5 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

The flowers are boiled and then pickled[13]. There are no edible uses listed for Bergenia ciliata.

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A juice or powder of the whole plant is used to treat urinary troubles in Nepal[12]. The juice of the leaves is used as drops to relieve earaches[12]. The root is used as a tonic in the treatment of fevers, diarrhoea and pulmonary affections[8][10][11]. The root juice is used to treat coughs and colds, haemorrhoids, asthma and urinary problems[12]. Externally, the root is bruised and applied as a poultice to boils and ophthalmia, it is also considered helpful in relieving backache[11][12]. The root of this plant has a high reputation in indigenous systems of medicine for dissolving stones in the kidneys[10].

Product or use
Lithontripic
Product or use
Ophthalmic
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The root contains 14 - 16% tannin[12]. A good ground cover plant[4], forming a slowly spreading clump[7][9].

Product or use
Tannin

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Himalayas from Afghanistan to E. Tibet.
Habitat
On moist rocks and under forest shade, 1900 - 2600 metres in Kashmir[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[4] or in autumn[6]. 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

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in full sun or light shade in most soils[6] 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[7]. Succeeds in shade or semi-shade-[3]. The leaf colour is best when plants are grown in a poor soil in a sunny position[4]. Dislikes cold winds[5]. The plant is hardy to about -20°c, but the flowers and young leaves are rather sensitive to frost[3] 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[7]. If the leaves are cut back by frost then they are soon replaced by fresh leaves in the spring[4]. 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[12]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[9]. The different species of this genus will hybridise freely when grown near each other[9].

References

  1. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P. Forest Flora of Srinagar. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1976-00-00

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  3. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2

  4. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  5. Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-304-31089-1

    ↩

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  7. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

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  9. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  11. Medicinal Plants of Nepal Dept. of Medicinal Plants. Nepal. 1993-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  12. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  13. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-527-6 (2002-00-00)

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