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Lenten rose Helleborus xhybridus
Winter in cold-weather areas can be an excruciating time for gardeners. While the garden outside sleeps, we’re inside, pacing the floor and waiting for spring. Well, if you have Lenten roses in your garden, your wait will soon be over.
Lenten roses like the one in the photo hybridize freely and, as a result, you’ll find lots of hybrids. These long-lived perennials emerge and bloom from late winter to early spring — about the same time as crocus and snowdrops. Flowers come in a wide variety of colors from white, to pink, red, green and even yellow.
Even after the long-lasting flowers finally fade, the leathery foliage stays fresh-looking all year. And if you have mild winters or reliable snow cover, many will even be evergreen for you. Lenten roses are easy to grow and after several years, the plants spread into large clumps.
TYPE Perennial BLOOM White, pink, red, green and occasionally yellow in late winter to early spring LIGHT Part to full shade SOIL Well-drained PESTS None SIZE 1 to 3 ft. tall and wide HARDINESS Cold: USDA zones 5 to 9, Heat: AHS zones 9 to 1
