Hellebores—An Early Sign of Spring and Four-Season Champ
by Linda Nordstrom, FROGS Board Member
Are you looking for an early sign of spring in your garden? The crocus may be up, but the rest of the garden is looking dismal. Enter: Hellebores! Hellebores are a delightful, if subtle, peak at the glory of spring in the dead of winter.
Depending on when it blooms, the genus Hellebore is commonly called Christmas rose, winter rose, or Lenten rose. It is a member of the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family. Hellebores are native to Europe and temperate Asia, where their native color is white or lavender. Because the plant readily hybridizes, many cultivars are available in the marketplace. With cultivation, the plant's color ranges from white to cream to pink to dark purple, close to black.
Hellebore's flowers are the plant's sepals, much like a poinsettia. This is why the flowers "bloom" for an extended period of time. Hellebores act as a ground cover, spreading to 24 inches wide. They prefer partial shade, reaching 15-18 inches tall. They will grow in our acidic soil but benefit from mixing in compost when planting. 
Lenten roses are long-lived perennials and rarely need dividing. To enhance plant growth, they can be fertilized with a slow-release fertilizer when new foliage begins to appear in late winter. Because they are perennial and evergreen, they provide four-season interest.
Hellebore can be toxic to people and animals, so caution should be used when working with or around the plant. Long sleeves and gloves are recommended. The good news is that because of this characteristic, they are deer-resistant!
The seeds of the Hellebore fall to the soil beneath the original plant. New seedlings appear quickly and can be dug and replanted in the fall. While it generally takes three years for the new plant to bloom, it is worth the wait.
Every shady winter garden should have at least one of these hardy, beautiful plants!
Sources:
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/lenten-rose/
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/helleborus/
Hellebore photos by Green Spring staff
