Helleborus x hybridus
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- hel-eh-BORE-us HI-bri-dus
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Despite its common name, Lenten rose, this clump-forming, broadleaf evergreen perennial is not a garden rose at all. It is a member of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). The hybrid hellebores are sometimes called hybrid winter roses or hybrid Lenten rose. Its genus name derives from the Greek word bora, which means food, and helein, which means injures or destroys, referring to its leaves, stems, and roots, all of which are toxic to humans. The genus Helleborus is native to Europe and Asia.
Lenten rose thrives in deep shade to partial shade to dappled sunlight. It is intolerant of bright winter sun and high temperatures. It prefers above-average to rich, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil with plenty of added compost. While it is relatively drought tolerant once established, it does best with consistent moisture, although it is sensitive to soggy soil. In colder areas, plants should be sheltered from winter winds. Mature plants form clumps up to 2 feet tall and 30 inches wide, which may be divided for propagation.
This perennial can grow in Carolina gardens or naturalized areas from the mountains and piedmont to the coast. It is unique in that flower stems quickly push up from the ground at the first sign of warmer weather in late winter, adding early season color. There are numerous hybrid selections and species available, but some may be difficult to distinguish, or may be misidentified in the trade. Many are simply called Lenten rose, a name historically associated with H. orientalis.
Use Lenten rose for border fronts, patios in protected areas, or shady spots in the landscape. Add it to a cutting or winter garden.
Like all hellebores, lenten rose is resistant to deers.
Quick ID Hints:
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Flowers nodding, petaloid sepals
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Short plant with stiff, large, evergreen leaves
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Leaves are palmately divided into many leaflets
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Flower center of numerous stamens outlined by tubular nectaries, or fleshy, beaked capsules
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Fungal diseases are the main problem.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
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- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Shaded Patio Garden Wild Side - A Shady Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Cinnamon Snow'
- 'Dark and Handsome'
- 'Double Ellen Pink'
- Double White
- 'Ivory Prince'
- 'Orientalis Red'
- 'Painted Doubles'
- 'Penny's Pink'
- 'Purple Ruffles'
- 'Royal Heritage'
- 'Silver Lace'
- 'Sparkling Diamond'
- 'Winter Delights Violet'
- 'Cinnamon Snow'
- 'Cinnamon Snow', 'Dark and Handsome', 'Double Ellen Pink', Double White, 'Ivory Prince', 'Orientalis Red', 'Painted Doubles', 'Penny's Pink', 'Purple Ruffles', 'Royal Heritage', 'Silver Lace', 'Sparkling Diamond', 'Winter Delights Violet'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Cinnamon Snow'
- 'Dark and Handsome'
- 'Double Ellen Pink'
- Double White
- 'Ivory Prince'
- 'Orientalis Red'
- 'Painted Doubles'
- 'Penny's Pink'
- 'Purple Ruffles'
- 'Royal Heritage'
- 'Silver Lace'
- 'Sparkling Diamond'
- 'Winter Delights Violet'
- 'Cinnamon Snow'
- 'Cinnamon Snow', 'Dark and Handsome', 'Double Ellen Pink', Double White, 'Ivory Prince', 'Orientalis Red', 'Painted Doubles', 'Penny's Pink', 'Purple Ruffles', 'Royal Heritage', 'Silver Lace', 'Sparkling Diamond', 'Winter Delights Violet'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Helleborus
- Family:
- Melathiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Crosses between H. orientalis and H. odorus and H. purpurescens
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Spreading
- Weeping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Clustered, green, fleshy capsules, long-beaked, surrounded by persistent sepals.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long Bloom Season
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Five overlapping petal-like sepals surround a bell-shaped crown of yellow stamens. A stalked cyme or panicle, terminal, bracteated, often nodding; bracts gigantic, leaf-like, dark green, entire to sparsely toothed, +/- lobed. 1-many, usually greenish, tinted gold or brown, pink or purple, cup or bowl-shaped, nodding, 3-4" dia; sepals 5, showy, pigmented, broadly ovate-elliptic; inner petal segments numerous, consisting of tubular nectaries, green to greenish-yellow, ephemeral; stamens numerous, anther yellow.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are divided into 7 to 9 segments with an umbrella-like shape. Tough, almost woody stems have leaves and terminal inflorescence on the same stem. Basal or cauline, palmately compound, coriaceous, glabrous; petiloes elongate, peltate; leaflets 3-9, irregularly toothed or serrate.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stout, rhizomatous or exposed.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Patio
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cutting Garden
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- Can cause illness if ingested. Both living and dried plants of all species of Helleborus are extremely poisonous. Plants contain a cardiac glycoside (helleborin), which acts directly on the heart muscle, causing convulsions, and delirium.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- glycoside and saponin
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
