Hybrids between two genera that have never been crossed before don’t come along very often. But we had the spectacular Argyranthemum × Glebionis hybrids that I wrote about back in September and here’s another; the first cross between a Mukdenia and a Bergenia, both members of the saxifrage family.
We all know bergenias, most of which are evergreen, with their big bold foliage and flamboyant spring flowers. Mukdenias are smaller, deciduous, and have rather maple-like leaves and sprays of small, white spring flowers with dark eyes. The best is Mukdenia rossii ‘Karasuba’, sometimes listed as ‘Crimson Fans’, which has reddish-bronze young foliage which becomes brightly flushed with crimson in summer and autumn.
Pollen from ‘Crimson Fans’ was used to fertilise an unnamed bergenia; the result is × Mukgenia ‘Flame’, which was developed by Chuck Pavlich at Terra Nova Nurseries in Oregon.
Carrying spring sprays of dark pink, almost bergenia-sized flowers on 30cm stems from April to June, the glossy, leathery, jagged foliage makes a mound about 15cm high and 30cm wide that develops rich autumn colours before it dies down for the winter. ‘Flame’ is a fine plant for the woodland garden, or containers in a shady spot, and is exceptionally hardy.
You can order plants of x Mukgenia ‘Flame’ at these RHS Plant Finder nurseries.
Please note, the contents of this blog reflect the views of its author, which are not necessarily those of the RHS.