Gardening Ideas Gardening Flowers How To Grow and Care for Lenten Roses and Other Hellebore Varieties With showy winter flowers in colors of red, pink, purple, white, yellow, and everything in-between, hellebores are among our most popular perennials for shade. By Southern Living Editors Updated on August 30, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email In This Article View All In This Article Hellebore Plant Care and Pruning Hellebore Light and Fertilizer Hellebore Division Hellebore Types and Varieties Lenten roses get their ecclesiastical nickname from their growing season. It begins in winter and extends into spring, surrounding the season of Lent. While the long-lived plants add color to the garden for several months in winter and spring, they're also appreciated for their attractive foliage. Each leaf consists of a long leafstalk ending in large, leathery leaflets grouped together like fingers on an outstretched hand. But, contrary to what their often interchanged names might have led you to believe, Lenten roses are actually a species of hellebore. And they're most assuredly not roses. All hellebores form tight clumps of many growing points, but species differ in their manner of growth. Some have stems that rise from the ground, with leaves all along their length; stems produce flowers at their tip in their second year, then die to the ground as new stems emerge to replace them. In other species, leaves are not carried on tall stems but arise directly from growing points at ground level; separate (typically leafless) flower stems spring from the same points. Getty/sandra standbridge Flowers are usually cup or bell-shaped (those of Helleborus niger are saucer-shaped), sometimes facing outward but more often nodding gently downward. They consist of a ring of petal-like sepals ranging in color from white and green through pink and red to deep purple (rarely yellow). Flowers of all hellebores persist beyond the bloom periods they are often prescribed, gradually turning green. And the blossoms are attractive in arrangements. After you cut them, slice the bottom inch of the stems lengthwise or seal the ends by searing over a flame or immersing in boiling water for a few seconds. Then place in cold water. Or simply float flowers in a bowl of water. Hellebore Plant Care and Pruning Plant in small groups (three to five plants together), spacing plant groups about 18 to 24 inches apart in good, well-drained soil amended with plenty of organic matter. Hellebore plants prefer soil that is somewhat alkaline but will also grow well in neutral to slightly acidic conditions (Helleborus niger is an exception; it must have alkaline soil). Be sure not to plant too deep—the crown of the plant should not be buried. They pair well in a wooded garden with other shade-loving perennials, such as ferns, hostas, gingers, foamflowers, and toad lilies. They are not damaged by deer or rodents. Every winter, just before the flowers appear, give them a haircut. Remove all leaves that began growing the previous winter and spring. Compost healthy-looking leaves and throw out spotted, brown, or yellow leaves with the trash. Do not compost diseased leaves, as they will spread their infected spores. Cutting off the leaves won't reduce the vigor of the plants. They'll quickly sprout new leaves. Hellebore Light and Fertilizer Hellebores can take partial to full shade but find their most ideal location in light shade with fertile, well-drained soil with an abundance of organic matter. If the soil is too acidic (pH 6.0 or lower), sprinkle a little lime over the soil surface once a year. It's also recommended to sprinkle slow-release fertilizer, such as Osmocote 14-14-14, once a year as well. Hellebore Division Don't disturb hellebores once planted; they resent moving and may take two or more years to re-establish. If well-sited, however, they may self-sow, and young seedlings can be transplanted in early spring. To propagate, divide established plants in fall or spring. Or transplant seedlings that sprout in spring. Hellebore Types and Varieties Helleborus Argutifolius (Helleborus Corsicus) Corsican helleboreZones MS, LS; USDA 7-8Blue-green, six to nine-inch leaves divided into three sharply toothed leafletsLeafy stems carry clusters of two-inch pale green flowers from winter into springMore sun tolerant than other hellebores.Requires moderate watering Getty/By Eve Livesey Helleborus X Ballardiae Corsican helleboreZones US, MS, LS; USDA 6-8This cross between Helleborus niger and Helleborus lividus features outward-facing blooms on deep red stemsRequires regular watering Getty/CurtisC Photoography Helleborus X Ericsmithii Corsican helleboreZones US, MS, LS; USDA 6-8Hybrid of complex parentageFeatures dark green, pale-veined leaves and large sprays of pale pink or white flowers, each up to four inches acrossBlooms face out, not downRequires regular watering Getty/John Caley Helleborus Foetidus Bear's-Foot helleboreZones US, MS, LS; USDA 6-9Blooms from winter to spring, bearing clusters of inch-wide light green flowers with purplish red edgesPlant parts are malodorous if crushed or bruised (they don't smell bad otherwise)Self-sows freely where adaptedRequires moderate watering Getty/emer1940 Helleborus X Hybridus Bear's-Foot helleboreZones US, MS, LS, CS; USDA 6-9These hybrid plants generally resemble principal parent Helleborus orientalis, but flower color range has been extended and superior parents selected for seed productionAll take moderate to regular water Getty/Jacky Parker Photography Helleborus Lividus Majorcan helleboreZones MS, LS, CS; USDA 7-9Leaves resemble those of Helleborus argutifolius but lack noticeable teeth and have purplish undersides and a network of pale veins aboveRequires moderate watering Getty/PhotoStudioMCD Helleborus Niger Christmas roseZones US, MS, LS; USDA 6-8Blooms from December into springLustrous dark green leaves are divided into seven to nine lobes with a few large teeth; they seem to rise directly from the soilWhite, two-inch flowers appear singly or in groups of two or three on a stout stem about the same height as the foliage clump.Blooms turn pinkish with ageAll varieties need more shade than other helleboresPlants of Helleborus orientalis are often mislabeled Christmas roseProvide alkaline soil and regular water Getty Helleborus Orientalis Lenten roseZones US, MS, LS; USDA 6-8Much like Helleborus niger in growth but more tolerant of warm-winter climatesBasal leaves with five to 11 sharply toothed leaflets; branched flowering stems to a foot tall, with leaf-like bracts at branching pointsBlooms in late winter and spring; flowers are 24 inches wide, in colors including white, pink, purplish, cream, and greenish, often spotted with deep purpleEasier to transplant than other helleboresHybridizes freely with many other species; many nursery plants may be hybridsRequires regular watering Getty/Jacky Parker Photography Helleborus X Sternii Lenten roseZones US, MS, LS; USDA 6-8Hybrid between Helleborus argutifolius and Helleborus lividus, with bluish green foliage netted with white or creamGreenish, one to two-inch flowers suffused with pink bloom from winter to springRequires moderate watering Getty/TonyBaggett Helleborus Viridis Green helleboreZones US, MS, LS; USDA 6-8Graceful bright green leaves are divided into seven to 11 leaflets; leafy stems bear one to two-inch-wide flowers in pure green to yellowish green, sometimes with purple on the insideBlooms from winter through late springRequires regular watering Getty/Mantonature Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit