Bergenia

noun

Ber·​ge·​nia

(ˌ)bər-ˈgē-nē-ə,

-nyə

1

: a genus of perennial spring-blooming herbs (family Saxifragaceae) native to central and eastern Asia that have large thick rootstocks which produce typical colonies or clumps of plants with very thick heavy leaves

2

bergenia plural bergenia or bergenias : any plant of the genus Bergenia

Foliage accents include clumps of big-leafed bergenias, moved in from an inauspicious spot in front of the house.

—Valerie Sudol, Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey), 13 May 2010

The foliage of bergenia isn't as large as hosta, but the plants feature clusters of bell-shaped flowers from white to different shades of pink.

—Jodi Torpey, Denver Post, 30 May 2008

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Karl A. von Bergen †1760 German physician and botanist + New Latin -ia

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