Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Helleborus x iburgensis 'Pippa's Purple'
Pippa's Purple Lenten Rose
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
- Height
- 18 to 24 inches
- Width
- 18 to 24 inches
- Flower color
- Smoky pink with burgundy flecking
- Foliage color
- Dark green with silver marbling
- Bloom time
- Late winter to mid-spring
- Light
- Partial shade to full shade; can tolerate full sun in milder climates if roots are kept cool
- Water
- Prefers moist, well-drained soil
- Maintenance
- Low; minimal pruning after flowering if necessary
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 5 to 9
- Wildlife
- Attracts pollinators; deer and rabbit resistant
About this plant
Helleborus × iburgensis 'Pippa's Purple' is an evergreen perennial that blooms from late winter into early spring. This cultivar was developed by English hybridizer Rodney Davey. It features large, purple-pink flowers with deep burgundy speckles, held upright and outward on dark purple stems. The prominent yellow stamens at the center add a bright contrast to the richly colored petals.
A distinguishing characteristic of 'Pippa's Purple' is its marbled foliage, with deep green leaves overlaid with silver-mauve mottling. This variegated foliage provides year-round interest, even when the plant is not in bloom. Additionally, 'Pippa's Purple' is deer resistant, making it a durable choice for gardens prone to wildlife browsing.
Works well in
Borders · Cottage Gardens · Pollinator Gardens · Rain Gardens · Containers
Companion plants
Bergenias · Sedums · Columbines · Lungworts · Daylilies · Japanese anemones
Design tip
Flowers in the quietest months make this worth a sheltered spot within sight of a window or door. It takes sun or light shade, which makes it useful along the changing light of a bed edge or a partly shaded border.
