“'Miss Piggy' is a compact, neat little pigsqueak — or bergenia, if you prefer the fancy name — that lights up the garden with bright pink flowers in early spring. Those big, deep green leaves bring…”
Penstemon orientalis
'Miss Piggy' Pigsqueak Is an Early-Blooming Perennial for Sun or Shade
'Miss Piggy' is a compact, neat little pigsqueak — or bergenia, if you prefer the fancy name — that lights up the garden with bright pink flowers in early spring. Those big, deep green leaves bring serious bold texture all season long (and even beyond, if you're in a warmer climate). This easygoing perennial plays nice with both spring bulbs and later-blooming perennials. Its low growth and chunky foliage make it great for massing as a ground cover, but it's just as happy being a solo accent or starring in a container.
Common name: 'Miss Piggy' pigsqueak
Botanical name: Bergenia cordifolia 'Miss Piggy'
Type of plant: Evergreen to semi-evergreen perennial
Exposure: Part shade; handles full sun in Northern gardens and full shade in Southern gardens
Flowers: Starting in early spring, clusters of bright pink, geranium-like flowers open up on chunky stalks that push right up through the big leaves.
Related: Bergenia flowers always remind me of rock candy. Check out that and five other candy-like blooms for the garden in "Unique Garden Flowers That Call Candy to Mind"
Foliage: Broad, dark green, cabbage-like leaves stick around all year. They hold up best through Southern winters. The new leaves that emerge in spring have this lovely glossy sheen.
Size and habit: 'Miss Piggy' bergenia reaches 16 to 18 inches tall and 28 to 32 inches wide, with a nice mounding habit.
Origin: The species Bergenia cordifolia (syn. Bergenia crassifolia) originally hails from slopes and stream banks in northern China and Siberia.
How to grow it: Plant 'Miss Piggy' pigsqueak in rich, well-draining soil that doesn't dry out completely. Like other bergenias, it's happiest in part shade. It can handle full sun in cooler climates, but down South you'll want to protect it from strong sun — especially those brutal afternoon rays. Snip off old, tattered leaves in early spring, and once the flowers fade, cut the stalks down at the base. Bergenia can tough out a drought, but it'll look way better with regular watering. USDA Zones 4–8.
Images courtesy of Proven Winners
