Pelargonium x domesticum 'El Gato' at Sequim Rare Plants

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Bergenia 'Tubby Andrews'

Bergenia 'Tubby Andrews'

Shown in this picture are the winter colors. During the summer the colors of 'Tubby Andrews' are green and cream marbling. Only when the season becomes cold enough to freeze do the pinkish and reddish shadings show. The colder it becomes outdoors, the brighter the coloring becomes. Shown here is a picture taken in November. A month later the red becomes even brighter and stronger.

A common name for this evergreen perennial is “pigsqueak.” If you squeeze your thumb and forefinger on a leaf, and gently pull your fingers along one of its rubbery leaves, it will make a noise something like a rude squeak.

Bergenia survives outdoors in very cold climates, as well as warmer ones. It does not need much care, thriving on neglect. It's spring flowers of magenta are an added bonus. But with evergreen leaves such as this, who needs flowers?