This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Re: [SHADEGARDENS] Lenten Rose

Sherryl,

First of all, the nomenclature of the Lenten Rose is a mess. These are
promiscuous little devils, and probably the only pure H. orientalis is
found in the Balkan area, or else has been brought to the garden from
there. The group hybridizes so readily, that the most accepted name now is
H. x hybridus. They are also called the Lenten Rose Hybrids. Incidentally,
this will be the February plant on the North American Rock Garden Society
web site.
        http://www.NARGS.org
Found out years ago that NARGS is THE site for woodland or shade garden
seeds. Not that that is what they have in mind, but a lot of the rock
garden enthusiasts also are VERY interested in shade gardening.

The Lenten Rose hybrids will grow under most conditions, but in the wild
are found in limestone areas. They are tough plants, whose main problem
seems to be a leaf spot, which does need a fungicide. There is a lot of
breeding going on, and leads to strains of yellow, picotee, white, purple,
etc. Named varieties must be increased by division, which is a very slow
process, and therefore makes for very expensive plants.
        One of the real problems is that H. orientalis may not even be part of the
lenten rose hybrids, or crosses may have crossed to the extent that it is
anyones guess just what is involved.
        Now, all that said, they are wonderful plants. Anything with a 2 to 3 inch
bloom that flowers in February can't be ignored. Mine are coming into bloom
now.... The warm weather here has them totally confused, along with several
other things. Don't know what the winter weather we are bound to have will
do to them, but will report later..... Nancy

>I also have a question about LENTEN ROSE (Helleborus orientalis). In the
>February issue of "Organic Gardening", it is featured as a "Perennial
>All-Star". It does look beautiful, and it grows in shade (zones 4-9). I'm
>not familiar with this plant, and would enjoy some discussion from those of
>you who have grown it. It sounds like a plant to beautify the winter
>garden....blooming as early as January in milder areas, but in March to May
>in the colder regions.

Nancy Swell
Richmond, VA
swell@erols.com
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index