About
Haberlea rhodopensis, the Orpheus flower, is a stemless, evergreen perennial to 15 cm forming a rosette of hairy, dark-green, obovate, scalloped leaves to 8 cm. In spring, umbels of two-lipped, light-violet flowers 2.5 cm across appear on slender stalks above the rosette, marked orange in the white throat. A beautiful alpine for a shaded, moist, well-drained rock crevice or alpine house.
About the genus
Haberlea are evergreen perennials in the gesneriad family forming stemless rosettes of hairy, obovate, scallop-edged leaves and umbels of two-lipped, funnel-shaped, lilac or white flowers with a yellow-spotted throat in spring. Grown in shaded, moist, well-drained positions.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull shade, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectEast-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeAlpine Rockery
HabitClump forming
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesPatio and container plants, Rock garden
Native toBulgaria, Greece
Care notes
CultivationGrow in a moist but well-drained, humus-rich, gritty, acid to neutral soil in full or partial shade. Protect from excessive winter wet and cold winds. Best grown in vertical rock crevices to avoid the accumulation of water in foliage rosettes. Root disturbance is resented
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by seed or root leaf cuttings in spring
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs and snails
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free