All the Dirt: A Harbinger of Spring

By Jim Nunweiler Saturday, January 23, 2010

If you have ever grown the Lenten Rose you can appreciate their beauty during the cold months of winter.

Their botanical name is Helleborus (hel-eh-bore-us) orientalis (or-ee-en-tay-liss) and they come in a wide variety of colors. This plant is much easier to grow and larger than its cousin Helleborus niger, the Christmas Rose. They actually belong to the Ranunculaceae (ra-nun-kew-lay-see-ee) or Buttercup family. It is native to the Greece-Turkey area of Eurasia.

This is one perennial gem that remains as a year-round evergreen and comes into its glory during the winter months with exceptional flowers. They will bloom from late December through mid spring. These plants can attain a height and width of 18 inches. They are hardy from zones 4 through 9. This is one plant that prefers full shade but can take some sun during the morning hours.

There is a wide spectrum of floral colors from shades of whites, reds, pinks, yellows and purples. Some offer an added bonus with speckles or stripes of a contrasting color. The leaves are a rich dark green and palmate in shape. The flowers are cup shaped, up to four inches across and bend over in a nodding fashion.

The soil they are planted in should remain evenly moist, but the plant should not sit in water. The best pH for these can be anywhere from 6.1 (mildly acidic) to 7.8 (mildly alkaline). The addition of organic matter to the soil is a plus for the plant.

This plant is ideal for naturalizing in shaded areas. If you don’t have a shaded area in your yard to plant, you can grow them in containers and find a suitable shaded area near an entrance to your home. Just keep in mind that they need to remain in the elements since they love the cold during the winter.

If your interest is in propagating, these plants offer large fleshy roots, which make them ideal for dividing to make more. This is best if done from late summer into autumn. For those who would like to try seed, collect the seed pods after they have browned and matured. The seeds are very easy to germinate. Many times you can find seedlings that have sprouted around the adult plants. Growing from seed doesn’t guarantee the new plant will look like its parents. The only way this is possible is by dividing.

These plants have no serious problems with insects or diseases. You could possibly find some root rot if the plant remains in an overwatered state. Very little maintenance is necessary. If the large leaves begin to look shabby, just cut them off before flowering time.