Lenten roses delightfully appear below the tree canopy
The blooms of Lenten roses are a welcome sign of spring, flowering at a time when color is craved in the landscape. Their flowers range in color from near black, deep purple, reddish purple, rose and light pink to chartreuse, yellow and white. Some have solid-colored petals, others are speckled.
Flowers may be single or fully double and are usually nodding, although breeders are working to produce plants with upward-facing blossoms. Flowers dry beautifully on the plant and contribute color to the garden well into summer.
The handsome, leathery, dark green foliage of Lenten roses, also commonly called Hellebores, grows about a foot tall and forms clumps up to 18 inches wide. Although they are considered evergreen, the leaves become tattered in our cold winters. Prune away damaged foliage before new growth begins to enjoy the best display of flowers.
Botanically known as Helleborus orientalis, or Helleborus x hybrid's, they grow best in moist, well-drained soil heavily amended with organic matter. Lenten roses are not fussy about soil type as long as it isn't soggy. They rarely if ever need fertilizer.
Hellebores have gained the attention of plant breeders and the number of cultivars is growing by leaps and bounds. Double Ellen Pink sports nodding, double pink flowers. Snow Love boasts outward-facing blooms of creamy yellow and white that age to celadon green.
Candy Love presents bouquets of outward-facing blossoms in shades of soft pink and green. The dark green foliage of Candy Love is silver tinted.
In a woodland garden, Lenten roses slowly colonize as they self-seed. Clusters of favorite varieties are welcomed by most gardeners, but seedlings may not look like their parents. Hellebores practice free love in the garden, sharing pollen generously. If a particular bloom color is preferred, purchase plants in bloom at your local garden center, and then remove seedlings.
The leaves, stems and roots are toxic so deer, voles and other garden scoundrels leave them alone. Keep an eye out for slug damage, and use controls that contain iron phosphate if you notice their telltale signs - irregular holes in leaves or their distinctive, silvery slime trails. Iron phosphate is safe to use around pets and wildlife.
Diatomaceous earth is another option for controlling slugs. It is a dust made of the skeletons of fossilized crustaceans. Wear a mask when applying it. Diatomaceous earth can irritate the nose and lungs if a large amount is inhaled. It can also scratch eyes so wear gloves and wash hands after use.
Lenten roses are delightful companions to other residents of the woodland garden where sunlight peeks through the tree canopy throughout the day. Their rugged foliage is a lovely contrast to the fine-textured fronds of ferns or the grassy blades of sedges.
Their bold, dark green leaves showcase perennials with colorful foliage like coral bells (Heuchera), foamflowers (Tiarella) and lungwort (Pulmonaria). Plant them near spring-flowering bulbs like crocus, hyacinths and early blooming tulips and daffodils.
• Diana Stoll is a horticulturist and the garden center manager at The Planter's Palette, 28W571 Roosevelt Road, Winfield. She blogs at gardenwithdiana.com.