It is bergenia, and i have it in semi shade. If you chose the variety carefully you get autumn/winter colour and good flowers from April-May. flower colours from white to deep magenta pink. It is good at keeping weeds down as the cover a lot of bare soil. Not sure about wildlife benefits though. Bees will visit the flowers.

Oh yes it is lovely and spreads and the bees love it, it is called Bergenia and is from the saxifrage family, the shape of the leaves gives it its name of elephant ears.

So you could say its the big brother to London's Pride?

its more of a big cousin :o)

lol

Could be ' uncle' !

Well I think Ive started a family plot!!!, as long as the wildlife like them there all welcome. I am if Iam honest, getting a bit worried that nothing will grow here so close to the house. I am in the process of ordering plants. I keep looking at the space and thinking it doesnt get much sun at all. One corner gets diderly squat. Am I wasting my money?. Gosh I wish you guys all lived closer you could come and see. If I was Richard Branson I could hire a plane and fly you all hee lol

Great, more like lost the plot !!!!!! ha ha :o)) Also if you were Richard B he wouldnt be able to fly his plane due to volcanic ash!!!!

Yeah, yeah I know, I can dream

Great I have loads of shade and grow a wide range of plants. Have a look at my plant profile and where I say it is in the shed bed that gets no sun at all. I did a blog back in June/july last year as I renovated that area. [the magnolia might be misplaced]. the plants under the beech tree or down the side drive all get very little sun.

Thanks SBG