Lenten Rose (Helleborus)
[hel-LEB-or-us]

Evergreen Perennial Mounded

About Lenten Roses

Hellebores are the cool goths of the garden—they don’t just survive in darkness—they thrive in it!  Lenten Roses are evergreen and bloom in late winter or early spring (around Lent), when everything else in your yard is still hitting snooze...  Many cultivars have interesting flower colors: ranging from subtle light green to dark red to almost black. Hellebores are deer-resistant (they contain 3 toxins, so you shouldn't eat them, either!).  Historically, the flowers faced downwards, but flowers of the newer varieties are more visible.  Hellebores also stay politely where they're put...  They hold their ground in the shade, but establish slowly, and don't self-seed much.

These evergreen perennials belong to the Ranunculaceae family and are primarily native to the northern hemisphere, particularly around the Mediterranean region and parts of Asia. Hellebores are notable for their unique flowers, which consist of sepals rather than traditional petals, and bloom in late winter to early spring, providing color during a time when few other plants are flowering.  These plants thrive in hardiness zones 5 through 8 and are appreciated for their ability to adapt to various soil types, although they prefer well-drained conditions. Hellebores are also known for their toxicity; all parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested, which makes them less appealing to deer and other herbivores. Additionally, they are relatively low-maintenance once established, requiring minimal fertilization and being tolerant of urban pollution, making them suitable for a variety of garden settings.

Pros

  • Evergreen with cool flowers in late winter before the rest of your garden wakes up
  • Thrives in the shade
  • Very low maintenance
  • Very deer resistant

Cons

  • Slow to grow & establish
  • They're expensive at the nursery
  • Most have subtle flower colors
  • Leaves are prickly
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 12 - 24 inches tall. 8 - 12 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Shade
Moisture Tolerance Medium : Moist, well-drained soil.
Zones 5a - 9a (Usually hardy to -20° F)
Tags Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Container, Deer Resistant, Edging, Evergreen, Formal Garden, Full Shade, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rain Garden, Good for Rock Garden, Low Maintenance, Medium, Medium, Mounded, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Perennial, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Salt, Well-Drained Soil, Woodland Garden
 

Awards
 

Rankings
 

Related Articles
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Snowdrops, crocus, muscari, daffodils, phlox, trillium, bleeding heart, ansies, violas, kales, mustards

Photos of This with...

Japanese Maple, Wild Ginger, Ghost Fern, Foxglove, Brilliance Japanese Shield Fern, Aureola Japanese Forest Grass, Plantain Lily, Variegated Lily Turf, Aurea Creeping Jenny, Raspberry Splash Lungwort, Rhododendron, Alpine Currant, Periwinkle,
 

Lenten Rose Available Now

Ivory Prince Christmas Rose
(Helleborus 'Walhelivor' IVORY PRINCE)
From $22.20

Royal Heritage Hellebore
(Helleborus 'Royal Heritage')
From $18.87

New York Night Hellebore
(Helleborus 'New York Night')
From $41.30

Rome in Red Hellebore
(Helleborus 'Rome in Red')
From $22.20

Penny's Pink Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'ABCRD01' PENNY'S PINK)
From $23.75

Anna's Red Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'ABCRD02' ANNA'S RED)
From $23.75

Frostkiss Molly's White Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'EPBRD01' FROSTKISS MOLLY'S WHITE)
From $23.67

Frostkiss Pippa's Purple Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'RD09' FROSTKISS PIPPA'S PURPLE)
From $23.75
Flower Girl Lenter Rose
(Helleborus 'Flower Girl')
From $41.30

Maid of Honor Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'Maid of Honor')
From $41.30

Wedding Bells Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'Wedding Bells')
From $41.30

Winter Jewels Onyx Odyssey Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'Onyx Odyssey')
From $129.15

Red Sapphire Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'Red Sapphire')
From $129.15

Honeymoon Rio Carnival Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'Honeymoon Rio Carnival')
From $20.19

Honeymoon Spanish Flare Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'Honeymoon Spanish Flare')
From $41.30
Wedding Party Black Tie Affair Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'Black Tie Affair')
From $41.30

Honeymoon California Dreaming Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'California Dreaming')
From $41.30

Wedding Party Dashing Groomsmen Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'Dashing Groomsmen')
From $41.30

Wedding Party First Dance Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'First Dance')
From $20.19

Honeymoon Romantic Getaway Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'Romantic Getaway')
From $41.30

Honeymoon Sandy Shores Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'Sandy Shores')
From $41.30

Winter Jewels Ruby Wine Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'Winter Jewels Ruby Wine')
From $129.15

Wedding Party Confetti Cake Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'Confetti Cake')
From $20.19
Wedding Party Mother of the Bride Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'Mother of the Bride')
From $41.30

Wedding Party Shotgun Wedding Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'Shotgun Wedding')
From $41.30

Bayli's Blush Hybrid Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'Bayli's Blush')
From $23.75

Dana’s Dulcet Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'Dana’s Dulcet')
From $23.75

Dorothy's Dawn Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'Dorothy's Dawn')
From $23.67

Glenda's Gloss Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'Glenda's Gloss')
From $23.75

Frostkiss Moondance Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'Moondance')
From $23.75

Cheryl's Shine Lenten Rose
(Helleborus Frostkiss 'Cheryl's Shine')
From $23.75
Lenten Rose Vibey Velvet
(Helleborus 'Winter Angels Vibey Velvet')
From $23.75

Lenten Rose Charmer
(Helleborus 'Winter Angels Charmer')
From $23.75

Frostkiss Elemental Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'Elemental')
From $23.75

Frostkiss Charmer Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'Frostkiss Charmer')
From $129.15
FROSTKISS Cherisa Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'FROSTKISS Cherisa')
From $23.75
Frostkiss Cosmio Lenten Rose
(Helleborus 'Frostkiss Cosmio')
From $23.75

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Limited Availability

We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!


Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


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