Lenten rose thrives in partial sun to shady conditions.
Plant it in moist, neutral-to-alkaline, rich soil with good drainage.
Lenten rose cannot tolerate high temperatures.
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Lenten rose is toxic to humans and pets.
Lenten Rose Care
Lenten rose is one of theeasiest plants to grow.
They do best when they receive sun in winter but full to partial shade in summer.
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Soil
This early spring bloomer prefers evenly moist, well-draining, fertile soil.
Enrich the soil withcompostto improve the vigor of the plants or fertilize them withmanure tea.
Water
Hellebores prefer evenly moist but not constantly wet soil; soggy soil can invite disease.
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The plants will need winter protection to keep them safe during deep freezes.
Lenten rose requires shade if you live in a zone with intensely hot, sunny summers.
It likes constant moisture and grows well in humid climates.
Fertilizer
Regularly amending your soil with organic matter is enough for a single specimen hellebore.
If using liquid fertilizer, ensure it doesn’t splash on the foliage because it can burn the leaves.
If you accidentally splash some on the plant, use a steady stream of water to wash it off.
Other hellebore species are similar to the Lenten rose.
Pruning
Allow the healthy evergreen foliage to remain on the plant throughout winter.
The leaves are dark green, glossy, and look hand-like with fingers.
In warmer climates, it is evergreen but will drop its leaves in colder winter climates.
Remove any browned and ragged foliage at its base during the growing season.
After blooming, prune Lenten rose flowering stems to their base to encourage new foliage growth.
Pruning Tip
Looking for the best pruners for your lenten rose?
We tested over 10top-rated pruning shearsin our Lab to ensure your plants stay happy and healthy.
Ensure to sterilize your pruners before and after each use.
Propagating Lenten Rose
Lenten rose is among the easiest plants to propagate.
you’re able to cultivate more plants through division.
The best time to divide mature plants is in spring.
A mature plant is about three years old and has flowered in the past.
Division can make flowering more vigorous for the upcoming blooming season.
Also, divided plants will likely bloom at least one year sooner than plants grown from seed.
Their attractive foliage makes them a gorgeous ground cover.
Expect Lenten rose tonaturalizeunder the right conditions.
Overwintering
Although cold-tolerant, this plant needs protection from harsh, cold winds.
Otherwise, it can tolerate freezing temperatures.
Usually, plants grown in containers need more protection than in-ground Lenten roses.
Use preventative fungicides early in the growing season to reduce fungal infections.
Proper spacing will also help prevent fungal diseases from spreading among plants.
Lenten rose is relatively pest-free; occasional slugs or snails are the most significant threats.
When growing a plant from seed, do not expect plants to produce blooms in the first year.
It can take two or more growing seasons before flowers appear.
Also, if the plant is being grown in a container, see to it the plant is notrootbound.
Bloom Months
Lenten rose usually blooms in February and stays in bloom until April.
How Long Does Lenten Rose Bloom?
What Do Lenten Rose Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Lenten rose is available in many varieties with different flower colors.
The flowers have five petals that come together to form a cup shape.
There are also several new double-flowering and bicolor varieties.
These flowers have very little fragrance and are not particularly well-liked for their scent.
You may want to save seeds at this time or consider deadheading the plant.
Deadhead the spent flowers if you don’t want the plant to spread in your garden.
If you situate it in the right spot, this plant can do the restand last for years.
However, fungus can be a problem.
This disease makes plants look stunted or deformed; plants will develop black streaks and netting patterns.
As the name implies, this disease is deadly.
Destroy this plant; it’s not salvageable and can spread to other nearby plants.
Aphids or whiteflies can spread it.
Apply horticultural oil to any plant with those insects to keep the virus away from your other plants.
Dry, Brown Blotches on Foliage
Botrytis is a fungus that favors cooler, wet weather.
It’s also called gray mold.
It starts as water-soaked spots on leaves and stems and evolves to form dry, brown blotches.
The disease can attack the flowers in severe cases, making them unsightly and short-lived.
To treat the condition, spread 1/2 inch of lime chips around the base of the entire plant.
Yellowing Leaves
Your evergreen plant might develop yellowed leaves during hot summers or harsh winters.
To encourage regrowth, trim off dead or dying leaves.
These plants mature slowly and are long-lived plants once established.
They can live for more than 20 years.
These two hellebores often get confused.
Christmas rose is white-flowered andblooms in December in warmer climates.
When grown indoors, Lenten rose is best placed by a north-facing window.
It cannot tolerate the bright light streaming through a south-facing window.
Lenten rose is an evergreen in warmer climates, staying green all year.
North Carolina State Cooperative Extension.
