Providing year-round interest in most of its growing range, this clump-forming herbaceous perennial has attractive thick, shiny leaves that are dark green in summer and wine red to plum purple in fall and winter. Clusters of white semidouble flowers appear in early to mid-spring and blush to pale pink as they mature. Borne on thick red scapes, they hover above large rosettes of foliage.
The plant grows easily with little maintenance, tolerates a wide range of soils, including dry soil once established, and resists deer and rabbits. It slowly spreads by rhizomes and grows in heavy shade but looks its best in dappled sunlight. It is evergreen south of and semievergreen to deciduous north of Zone 7. Winter mulching is advised in colder climates.
Shown to best effect when grouped or massed, it is a stellar edging, border, or mixed bed plant and an excellent groundcover for areas of erosion, but it also works well in a container.
