Flowers · Perennials and shrubs
Lenten rose
Helleborus × hybridus
An evergreen perennial that flowers in late winter, with nodding bowls in white, pink, plum or spotted forms. It prefers shade and soil that does not dry out in summer.
Growing conditions
Soilclay, loam, chalk
Moisturemoist, well-drained
pHneutral, alkaline
Position
SunShade, Partial sun
Aspectnorth, east, west
Exposuresheltered
HardinessH7
Size
Time to maturityFlowers from the second winter
Max height0.4–0.5 m
Max spread0.4–0.5 m
In the garden
Plant in autumn or spring and leave the crown undisturbed. In midwinter, cut away the old leaves so the flowers are visible and disease has less to linger on.
Aphids cluster under the leaves. Leaf spot is reduced by removing old foliage.
Colour and scent
A mark in a season means the plant is doing that for at least part of it.
| Season | Foliage | Flower | Scent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Leaves | white to plum | — |
| Summer | Leaves | — | — |
| Autumn | Leaves | — | — |
| Winter | Leaves | white to plum | — |
- Janwhite to plum
- Febwhite to plum
- Marwhite to plum
- AprFoliage
- MayFoliage
- JunFoliage
- JulFoliage
- AugFoliage
- SepFoliage
- OctFoliage
- NovFoliage
- DecFoliage
Jobs
These dates suit a mild southern garden. A northern or Scottish plan shifts spring and autumn jobs by a fortnight.
10 January
Remove old leaves
Cut last year's hellebore leaves away as the flower buds rise, and bin spotted foliage.
1 May
Mulch
Feed with compost after flowering. Do not bury the crown.