FrostKiss™ Pippa's Purple® Lenten Rose

Name: FrostKiss™ Pippa's Purple® Lenten Rose
Brand: Nature Hills Nursery
SKU: 21429
Price: 53.11 USD
Availability: InStock

Helleborus x 'RD09'

Nature Hills Nursery

$53¹¹

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In Stock

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Find your Growing Zone

Plant Size

#1 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Provide 2 to 4 hours of morning sun or dappled light throughout the day. While these plants tolerate full shade, a little bit of light ensures the best flower production and keeps the marbled pattern on the leaves looking sharp.
Soil: Use rich, organic soil that drains well but retains some moisture. If you have heavy clay, mix in plenty of compost or leaf mold to prevent the roots from sitting in stagnant water, which can lead to crown rot.

Watering Requirements

Water regularly during the first growing season to help the root system expand into the surrounding soil. Once established, Pippa's Purple is quite drought tolerant, but providing an inch of water per week during dry spells prevents the foliage from wilting. Inconsistent moisture during the peak of summer heat can cause the leaf edges to brown and crisp.

Pruning Tips

In late winter, just as the flower buds begin to peek through the soil, clip off all of last year’s tattered or spotted leaves right at the base. This acts like a fresh haircut, removing old foliage that might harbor fungal spores and clearing the way for the new blooms to take center stage. Since these plants produce flowers on the previous year's energy, removing the old leaves allows the plant to focus entirely on the new growth.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer in early spring as soon as you see new growth emerging. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer season because it encourages tender leafy growth that is easily damaged by early frosts. Providing nutrients early in the year supports the heavy energy demands of the long blooming season.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4	Week of March 30th
Zone 5	Week of March 16th
Zone 6-12	Week of March 2nd

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Early spring plum and gold for your garden! The FrostKiss™ Pippa's Purple® Lenten Rose (Helleborus x 'RD09') is an early wonder! Blushing plum stems sit atop silver veined green foliage can often be seen emerging through the snows of late winter. The buds open into shy purple to smoky-pink petals with dark speckles and a shower of butter yellow sparks erupting from each center.

Lenten Rose forms dense clumps of elegantly nodding blooms and Pippa’s stays compact and uniformly mounded. The silvery veined green leaves can be evergreen in warmer climates but are hardy herbaceous perennials in cold growing zones down to USDA zone 4.

Early emerging pollinators are grateful for these early emerging little wonders! You’ll be grateful too for the chance at snipping the first long stems for a bouquet on your nightstand! Pippa's Purple® is part of the FrostKiss™ series, selected to withstand full sun in cooler growing zones, giving northern gardeners more placement options!

Planting and Application:

Hellebore are fantastic in cutting gardens and perennial borders, adding their grace to your garden beds and helping chase away the winter blues. The elegant form adds a beautiful effect to Zen and Rock gardens. They are of course lovely additions to pollinator, cottage and cutting gardens!

Lenten Rose slowly colonizes small areas, these are fantastic for gradually rambling through your garden beds among perennials and early spring ephemerals. Highlight in a protected planter with other early spring wonders like forced bulbs, Snowdrops and Forsythia blooms. Turning any garden bed into a woodland wildflower garden and brightening any shade garden!

Speckled Plum-Purple Petals & Prominent Yellow Eye
Dark Green Foliage With Silver Veins
Small Spreading Compact Clumps
Long Slender Purple Stems
Cutting & Perennial Gardens & Early Spring Color

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Hellebores tolerate full sun only in the mildest summers, preferring filtered sun and partial shade, even full shade in the hottest of its growing zone range. Plant in a well-drained, cool moist soil that won’t dry out and mulch the bed very well. Deadhead for more return blooms.

Full Sun in Cool Summers, Part Shade & Full Shade
Moist Well-Drained Soil
Well Mulched Beds
Clean Mound in Very Early Spring
Deer Resistant

FrostKiss™ Pippa's Purple® Lenten Rose will help beat those winter doldrums with a burst of early plum-purple color that can handle a bit more sun than its shade-loving cousins! Order your winter relief at NatureHills.com today!

Botanical Name

Helleborus x 'RD09'
Class
- Magnoliopsida
Species

x
Cultivar

RD09
Growing Zones

4-9
Height

1-2 ft
Width

1-2 ft
Sunlight
- Partial shade
Growth Rate

Slow
Flower Color
- Purple
Leaf Color
- Green
- White
- Variegated
Fall Color

Green
Bloom Period

Late Winter, Early Spring, Late Spring
Does Not Ship To

AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

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Growing Zones 4-9

Find Your Growing Zone!

Frequently Asked Questions

What USDA hardiness zones is FrostKiss™ Pippa's Purple® Lenten Rose suitable for?

FrostKiss™ Pippa's Purple® Lenten Rose is hardy in USDA zones 4-9. This perennial performs as an evergreen in warmer zones but dies back herbaceously in colder areas. Plant in partial shade for best results in most climates.

What is the mature size or height and spread of FrostKiss™ Pippa's Purple® Lenten Rose?

FrostKiss™ Pippa's Purple® stays compact and uniformly mounded, forming small spreading clumps that slowly colonize areas. This Lenten Rose maintains a tidy, dense habit perfect for borders and cutting gardens. Plan spacing accordingly since it gradually spreads through garden beds over time.

What are the soil requirements for planting FrostKiss™ Pippa's Purple® Lenten Rose?

FrostKiss™ Pippa's Purple® Lenten Rose thrives in well-draining, humus-rich soil with consistent moisture. These hardy perennials prefer slightly alkaline to neutral pH and benefit from organic matter worked into the planting area. Avoid soggy conditions which can cause crown rot.

How much shade or sun exposure does FrostKiss™ Pippa's Purple® Lenten Rose need?

FrostKiss™ Pippa's Purple® tolerates full sun in cooler zones but prefers partial shade in most climates. This FrostKiss™ series selection handles more sun exposure than typical hellebores, especially in northern gardens. Plant in filtered sun to partial shade for best results.

When does FrostKiss™ Pippa's Purple® Lenten Rose bloom, and what color are the flowers?

FrostKiss™ Pippa's Purple® blooms in late winter through early spring, producing shy purple to smoky-pink petals with dark speckles and bright yellow centers. The plum-colored buds often emerge through snow, making this hellebore perfect for cutting your first spring bouquets. Shop at Nature Hills for reliable zone 4-hardy stock.

Is FrostKiss™ Pippa's Purple® Lenten Rose deer-resistant and low-maintenance?

Yes, Lenten Rose is naturally deer-resistant and very low-maintenance once established. This hardy perennial thrives in zones 4-9 with minimal care, slowly spreading into dense clumps. Plant in partial shade and enjoy years of early spring blooms with little intervention required.

How is FrostKiss™ Pippa's Purple® Lenten Rose shipped, and in what condition?

FrostKiss™ Pippa's Purple® ships as a dormant bare root or potted plant depending on season. This hardy perennial arrives ready to establish in zones 4-9. Plant immediately upon arrival and water well to encourage strong root development.