Helleborus | Hellebore, Lenten Rose

2023, March 2 -First bloom date (did not come back in 2024)

Helleborus | Hellebore, Lenten Rose

Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family) Pronounced Ruh-nunc-you-lace-ee-eye

Pronounced Hel-eh-BORE-us

The name "Helleborus" is from the Greek word "bora" meaning "food" and "helein" meaning "injures/destroys" in that the plant is toxic and poisonous.

The flowers are rose-like and appear as one of the first flowers in the Spring. I found them difficult to enjoy unless I bent down and lifted them up from the ground. I think they would be better in raised beds.

The blooms we see are five overlapping sepals (not petals, but tepals and petals together are tepals).

Mine survived the first year and appeared to die back in 2023, but did not return in 2024. I read that they are evergreen, however, so rather than dying back, I guess they just died.

This is a shade-loving plant, so I should make sure I plant it next time in a shadier spot than before where I had them in partial shade.

It is best to cut back the foliage in the late Winter when the new foliage begins to emerge.

I planted in 2022 the Frostkiss 'Anna's Red' Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis Lam. x 'ABCRD02' ). It survived and bloomed in 2023, but then did not come back. That was an expensive plant for only one year of enjoyment. I am not anxious to try this plant again. This variety is named after Anna Pavord, a famous United Kingdom gardening author.

Some varieties:

Helleborus x hybridus | Hybrid Lenton Rose

Helleborus niger | Christmas rose

Helleborus orientalis | Lenten rose

Helleborus foetidus | Japanese hellebore

2022

2023