Other Names:  Lenten Rose, Winter Rose

Description:

Cup-shaped flowers in rich purple-red are more upright than other varieties, strong dark red stems are good for cutting; blooms emerge in late winter and spring, above attractive leathery dark green foliage with pale green veins; ideal for shade gardens

Ornamental Features

Pippa's Purple Hellebore features showy nodding purple cup-shaped flowers with red overtones at the ends of the stems from late winter to early spring, which emerge from distinctive pink flower buds. Its glossy oval compound leaves emerge coppery-bronze in spring, turning bluish-green in colour with distinctive light green veins the rest of the year. The dark red stems can be quite attractive.

Landscape Attributes

Pippa's Purple Hellebore is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Pippa's Purple Hellebore is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens

Planting & Growing

Pippa's Purple Hellebore will grow to be about 18 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 18 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in partial shade to shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.