A species found in coniferous and deciduous woodlands, stream beds, scree and stony slopes across N. Altai, W. Irktusk and Tuva Republic in Siberia, N.E. Mongolia and possibly in North Korea at 200-2000m. It has broadly oval, ovate or oblong, bright green leaves with a rounded apex, rounded or cuneate base and glabrous leaf surfaces. Margin recurved, crenulate to serrate. Flowers are described by Yeo as a medium rose-purple to deep reddish-purple.

The type specimen of the genus is a Saxifraga crassifolia cultivated in Uppsala Botanic Garden from 1753. It was introduced into cultivation in England in 1765 by Dr. Solander. Saxifraga crassifolia is now a synonym of Bergenia crassifolia. Herbarium specimens indicate that the species was cultivated at Uppsala in the time of Linnaeus.