Hellebore Lenten Rose

Learn about the Hellebore Lenten Rose perennial flowers. They are easy to grow, deer resistant, and one of the first to bloom in late winter, early spring.

It's so interesting how plants acquire their common names. Many times, they come from the time of year in which they bloom. Such is the case with today's feature, the Lenten rose.

Cousin to the Christmas rose, Helleborus niger, the Lenten rose or Helleborus orientalis, is one of the first beauties to grace my garden in the spring. 

This little gem has bloomed for me as early as February, which is often the beginning of Lent.

If you don't have any hellebores in your garden, you are missing out. First of all, they are very low maintenance, requiring minimal water and sun. 

The Lenten rose is a great drought tolerant perennial and thrives well in our clay soil.

Better yet, they are rabbit and deer resistant!  I also love that they bloom early when you are dying to see some life in the garden.

Hellebores originated from Europe and are part of the Ranunculaceae family. They produce beautiful nodding blooms, 2-4 inches in diameter, on sturdy stems and glossy foliage.

Today, there is an abundance of hybrids on the market in a wide range of flower colors. Anywhere from the whitest white to the darkest, almost-black, purple with dark green leaves. If you can, buy one that is in bloom, so you can be sure of what you are getting.

Hellebore plants are shade perennials, but they will grow in partial shade. Some say they need full sun, which just means they will grow in just about any lighting conditions.

Many sold today that are hybrids may not be as hardy as the originals. Also, they may self-seed, providing you with more gorgeous plants to keep or give away. No worries, the seedlings tend to form big clumps and won't show up randomly somewhere else in your garden.

They also work great in a spring centerpiece. Here's an article from Gardenista about how to help hellebores last longer in arrangements. There are a few good tips and some beautiful flowers there.

For more information about this garden favorite, check out this article from A Way to Garden interview with Barry Glick, owner of Sunshine Farm and Gardens, where his focus is on hellebores.

Shed some light early in your garden and break out of the winter blues with The Lenten Rose. Growers are creating more and more hybrid beauties every year, so you will have many to choose from.