
- Water your roses. During the first season after planting Lenton roses, they should be watered once or twice each week.
- Add mulch around the base of your roses. Spread a 2- to 3-inch depth of bark mulch on the soil around the Lenton Rose to help retain moisture.
- Feed your rose. Provide a light fertilizer if the area struggles with growth. ...
- Cut away any diseased or dying leaves. During the summer months, trim back any diseased or dying leaves by cutting the stem as close to the ground as you ...
- Prune your roses in the winter months. Prune the old leaves off of Lenton roses in the winter when the new buds begin to emerge.
- Deadhead your rose’s old blooms. Trim the flowers off at the base of the stems as they begin to fade.
- Consider your environment when pruning your roses. In mild climates you may prune the Lenton Rose completely to the ground to give a unique look to the new blooms.
How do you care for a lenten rose plant?
Water lightly a day or two after planting. You can save seeds collected from flower heads for planting late that summer or the following spring. Lenten rose plants will also reseed themselves and spread to fill in an area; their attractive foliage makes them a gorgeous ground cover. Lenten rose will also naturalize under the right conditions.
What are Lenten roses and how do you grow them?
They also prefer to be planted in partial to full shade, making them great for adding color and texture to dark areas of the garden. Since the clumps are low growing, many people like planting Lenten roses along walks or wherever edging may be needed. These plants are also great for naturalizing wooded areas as well as slopes and hillsides.
Can you use liquid fertilizer on Lenten roses?
If using liquid fertilizer, make sure you do not get it on the foliage; it can burn the leaves. If you accidentally splash some on the plant, use a steady stream of water to wash it off. The cultivars of lenten rose have different bloom colors, but the basic plant form is identical.
Can you save seeds from Lenten roses?
You can save seeds collected from flower heads for planting late that summer or the following spring. Lenten rose plants will also reseed themselves and spread to fill in an area; their attractive foliage makes them a gorgeous ground cover. Lenten rose will also naturalize under the right conditions.

What do you fertilize Lenten roses with?
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.
Should I fertilize Lenten roses?
Fertilizing: Regularly amending your soil with organic matter is enough for the hellebore, but for larger plants, you can fertilize with a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new foliage is beginning to emerge.
What is the best fertilizer for hellebores?
Lime often frees up nutrients, so I tend to use spent mushroom compost which contains some lime. Take care not to mulch into the crown of the plant as it can cause the buds to rot. Seaweed fertiliser is a good alternative and I also work in fish, blood and bone.
How do you take care of Lenten roses?
Lenten rose is one of the easiest plants to grow. Keeping the soil moist and mulching in early winter will encourage the plants to thrive, but they can tolerate drier conditions once established. Plant them in early fall or late spring in a partial to full shade location and keep them sheltered from harsh winter winds.
Are hellebores acid loving?
Planting Hellebores Since hellebores are native to mountainous regions in Eurasia with limestone bedrock, they prefer alkaline to neutral soil. Adding lime at planting time helps balance our acidic soil pH.
Do hellebores need feeding?
If so, with what and when? A Yes, as hellebores, especially the garden hybrids, are very hungry plants. Spent mushroom compost or calcified seaweed work well. Feed at the end of August or September, when the leaves tend to grow flatter to the ground.
Is bonemeal good for hellebores?
All hellebores will also benefit from a late winter and/or autumn mulch of good garden compost or well rotted manure or mushroom compost. An autumn feed of bonemeal is beneficial. Do not let invasive plants encroach.
When should I fertilize my hellebores?
Plant hellebores in spring or early fall. Work an organic-rich fertilizer into the loosened soil at planting, water well, then cover the ground with 2 inches of weed-smothering mulch. Fertilize each spring and early fall to encourage best bloom.
What is the best natural fertilizer?
Five of the best… natural and organic fertilisersKelp. Kelp-based fertilisers contain potassium and a little nitrogen but the true benefits are the long-term effect they can have on your plants. ... Cow manure. ... Alfalfa meal. ... Limestone.
How often do you water Lenten roses?
Watering. Hellebores need water to help them establish their root system. It is recommended that you ensure that they are being watered one to times per week with enough water that the soil one inch below the surface is damp. They also need water when they are actively growing, during the fall and spring months.
Should you trim Lenten roses?
0:124:30Cleaning up your Lenten Rose in the Spring - How to prune HelleboresYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFor us it's in early to mid-april what I do is I come around and I remove the dead foliage. RightMoreFor us it's in early to mid-april what I do is I come around and I remove the dead foliage. Right back to the ground getting rid of this allows.
Why is my Lenten rose drooping?
Some Hellebore plants have clusters of flowers that sit high above the plants. These stems can get very heavy and “droopy” on well established plants. When the tops of this variety gets too unwieldy, it is a good time to deadhead hellebore, stems and all!
When should I fertilize my hellebores?
Plant hellebores in spring or early fall. Work an organic-rich fertilizer into the loosened soil at planting, water well, then cover the ground with 2 inches of weed-smothering mulch. Fertilize each spring and early fall to encourage best bloom.
What do you do with hellebores in the summer?
0:302:58Hellebore Care in Early Summer.mp4 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd they will quickly grow in amongst the clump of their mother and take over so go ahead andMoreAnd they will quickly grow in amongst the clump of their mother and take over so go ahead and deadhead these now before the seeds drop. And start taking over with seedlings.
Are hellebores the same as Lenten rose?
Helleborus ×hybridus is a group of evergreen, late-winter or early-spring flowering perennials in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) with the common names of hellebore, oriental hellebores, or Lenten rose (the name Christmas rose refers to H. niger).
Will Lenten rose spread?
The plants will suffer from root rot if they are left sitting in wet soil. Adding some compost around the plant will help it off to a good start. Hellebores will spread out a bit once they are established so leave them some room to expand.
What is the best way to keep a lenten rose from getting deer?
Common Pests/ Diseases. Lenten roses are a deer-resistant plant but they are occasionally susceptible to leaf spot and crown rot. 1 Preventative fungicides can be used early in the growing season to reduce fungal infections. Proper spacing will also help prevent fungal diseases from spreading among plants.
How to propagate Lenten rose?
Lenten rose is among the easiest plants to propagate, with several methods for doing so. Plant clumps can be dug up and divided in spring. Make sure each clump has a good root section as well as above-ground stems. These sections will likely develop into blooming plants in the first season.
How long does it take for a Lenten rose to bloom?
Hellebores can be planted in early fall or late spring and have a long eight- to 10-week bloom period. When they reseed and spread to fill in an area, their attractive foliage makes them a gorgeous ground cover.
What is the name of the flower that blooms in Lent?
As a group, the Helleborus species and hybrids, including Lenten rose , are known as hellebores. The two-part common name of Lenten rose refers to the plant's bloom season (around Lent) and the rose-like shape of its flower buds.
What is a Lenten rose?
Lenten rose is a hybrid plant, bred from crossing H. orientalis with other closely related species to improve the flowers. Valued for its early blooms of purple, red, yellow, green, blue, lavender, and pink, and its leathery evergreen foliage, the Lenten rose contributes good color throughout the growing season.
How long do Lenten roses last?
They are a constant in the garden for about six months.
Do hellebores need sun?
One of the best perennials for shade, hellebores will retain their vibrant sepals and foliage without a lot of sun. An ideal location for hellebores is under the canopy of a deciduous tree, which provides shade in the summer but loses its leaves in winter.
What is the best soil for a Lenten rose?
Growing Lenten Rose Plants. These plants grow best in rich, well-draining soil that’s kept somewhat moist. They also prefer to be planted in partial to full shade, making them great for adding color and texture to dark areas of the garden.
When do roses bloom?
In addition, these plants are seen blooming in early spring, often during the Lent season. The attractive plants are fairly easy to grow in the garden and will add a nice splash of color to gloomy, dark areas.
Do sage plants need to be divided?
They’re also drought tolerant. About the only downside to growing these plants is their slow propagation or recovery if disturbed. They generally do not require division and will respond slowly if divided. While seeds can be collected in spring, they’re best used right away; otherwise, they will dry up and go dormant.
Do Lenten roses need care?
Once established in the landscape, Lenten rose plants are quite hardy, requiring little care or maintenance. In fact, over time these plants will multiply to create a nice carpet of foliage and springtime blooms. They’re also drought tolerant.
What are the characteristics of a Lenten rose?
Lenten Rose Characteristics. The flowers of hellebores are usually shaped like either cups or bells (outward facing or drooping). They have a ring of petal-like sepals ranging from white to green through pink and red to a deep purple color. Very rarely are they ever yellow.
What is the name of the rose that blooms during Lent?
It closely resembles the night coaster Lenten rose and the black diamond Lenten rose. This is a double yellow-spotted lenten rose. These helleborous flowers are so named because they bloom around the time of Lent. This is a hybrid variety of Lenten rose called the Helleborus x hybridus, a bee-friendly flower.
What are the colors of Lenten Rose?
Some of the older varieties with softer tones have been replaced by darker, richer, deeper tones of blues, blacks, and burgundy.
How tall do Lenten roses grow?
Tips for Successful Lenten Roses. Your soil pH should be about 7. The plants are cold-hardy in USDA zones 4–8. You can expect your plant to grow about 18" tall and 18" wide. If the evergreen leaves begin to look like they are dying, simply cut them off before the flower stalks begin to stretch.
Can hellebore cause vomiting?
Winter-blooming Lenten roses. Although the flowers are gorgeous, the roots of all hellebores are strongly emetic (causing you to vomit) and can be fatal if ingested.
Do hellebores have pest problems?
Fortunately, these flowers have no serious pest problems (like most of their fellow hellebores) and they are deer resistant, as well. Hellebore Toxicity. The roots of all hellebores are strongly emetic (causing you to vomit) and can be fatal if ingested. pinterest-pin-it.
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Courage Books (An Imprint of Running Press), Philadelphia and London. This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Naming
- Water your roses. During the first season after planting Lenton roses, they should be watered once or twice each week. From the second season on, they can be watered much less often. These are highly drought-tolerant plants after they become established. If the weather is particularly dry, though, they will look better with a good, deep watering once every week or t…
- Add mulch around the base of your roses. Spread a 2- to 3-inch depth of bark mulch on the s…
Description
Cultivation
Culture
- The flowersactually sepals, which are similar to petals but longer-lastingare large (3 to 4 inches in diameter) and hang downward in clusters from thick stems that rise above the foliage. In addition to the color variations, there may be variations in markings, such as margins of a different color, showy freckling, or cool veining. Flowering initially occurs near ground level, below last year's lea…
Results
- Hellebores can be planted in early fall or late spring and have a long (eight- to 10-week) bloom period. When they reseed and spread to fill in an area, their attractive foliage makes them a gorgeous ground cover. Lenten rose will also naturalize under the right conditions. But if you wish to keep your Lenten roses as single specimens, well-established seedlings can be transplanted t…
Toxicity
- Although its foliage is evergreen, hellebores may become scorched and tattered in extremely harsh winters. Protect the plants from cold winds with a light fabric covering or cold frame.
Prevention
- Regularly amending your soil with organic matter is enough for the hellebore, but for larger plants, you can fertilize with a balanced fertilizer in early spring as new foliage is beginning to emerge.