Helleborus, Hellebore, Lenten Rose 'Mixed Hybrids, Noids'

Helleborus orientalis

Family
Ranunculaceae (ra-nun-kew-LAY-see-ee)
Genus
Helleborus (hel-eh-BORE-us)
Species
orientalis (or-ee-en-TAY-liss)
Synonym
Sun Exposure
Partial to Full Shade
Foliage
Evergreen
Deciduous
Smooth
Height
12-18 in. (30-45 cm)
Spacing
15-18 in. (38-45 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Danger
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color
Pink
Medium Purple
White/Near White
Bloom Time
Late Winter/Early Spring
Mid Spring
Other Details
Category
Perennials
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Can be grown as an annual
Bloom Characteristics
Flowers are good for cutting
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
Allow cut surface to callous over before planting
Seed Collecting
Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Auburn, Alabama

Huntsville, Alabama(2 reports)

Wetumpka, Alabama

Anchorage, Alaska

Sitka, Alaska

Little Rock, Arkansas

Berkeley, California

Capistrano Beach, California

Citrus Heights, California

Clayton, California

El Cerrito, California

Fairfield, California

Merced, California

Oak View, California

Oakland, California

Sacramento, California

Salida, California

San Francisco, California

Santa Ana, California

Stockton, California

Vallejo, California

Wheat Ridge, Colorado

Wethersfield, Connecticut

Pensacola, Florida

Tallahassee, Florida

Barnesville, Georgia

Lawrenceville, Georgia

Marietta, Georgia

Stone Mountain, Georgia

Homewood, Illinois

Mount Prospect, Illinois

Palatine, Illinois

Chesterton, Indiana

Jeffersonville, Indiana

Warren, Indiana

Ewing, Kentucky

Hebron, Kentucky

Mount Sterling, Kentucky

Prospect, Kentucky

Elkton, Maryland

Hagerstown, Maryland

Hughesville, Maryland

Takoma Park, Maryland

Foxboro, Massachusetts

Halifax, Massachusetts

Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

Marlborough, Massachusetts

Wayland, Massachusetts

Blissfield, Michigan

Owosso, Michigan

Paris, Michigan

Pinconning, Michigan

Royal Oak, Michigan

Booneville, Mississippi

Starkville, Mississippi

Archie, Missouri

Brunswick, Missouri

Piedmont, Missouri

Exeter, New Hampshire

Vineland, New Jersey

Aquebogue, New York

Buffalo, New York

New York City, New York

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Gold Hill, North Carolina

Kure Beach, North Carolina

Raleigh, North Carolina(2 reports)

Tobaccoville, North Carolina

Vass, North Carolina

Cincinnati, Ohio

Columbus, Ohio(3 reports)

Dundee, Ohio

Hilliard, Ohio

Newark, Ohio

Orient, Ohio

Port Orford, Oregon

Portland, Oregon(3 reports)

Rogue River, Oregon

Clairton, Pennsylvania

Devon, Pennsylvania

Malvern, Pennsylvania

Montoursville, Pennsylvania

Norristown, Pennsylvania

Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

Wallingford, Pennsylvania

York, Pennsylvania

Hope Valley, Rhode Island

Clemson, South Carolina

Conway, South Carolina

Summerville, South Carolina

Culleoka, Tennessee

Hendersonville, Tennessee

Hixson, Tennessee

Knoxville, Tennessee

Lenoir City, Tennessee

Memphis, Tennessee

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

New Johnsonville, Tennessee

Austin, Texas

Dallas, Texas(2 reports)

Houston, Texas

Mc Kinney, Texas

Tyler, Texas

West Dummerston, Vermont

Arlington, Virginia

Blacksburg, Virginia

Charlottesville, Virginia

Disputanta, Virginia

Dungannon, Virginia

Hallieford, Virginia

Hurt, Virginia

Leesburg, Virginia

Locust Dale, Virginia

Madison Heights, Virginia

Midlothian, Virginia

Newport News, Virginia

Springfield, Virginia

Woodbridge, Virginia

Wytheville, Virginia

Aberdeen, Washington

Anacortes, Washington

Auburn, Washington

CHIMACUM, Washington

Kalama, Washington

Puyallup, Washington

Seattle, Washington(5 reports)

Vancouver, Washington

Charleston, West Virginia

La Crosse, Wisconsin(2 reports)

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

35
positives
4
neutrals
1
negative
Sort By:
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S
Greenfield, IN (Zone 6a) | May 2020 | positive

I have four varieties of some fancy shmancy ruffled kinds from Annies Annuals. I have never paid much attention to them as they bloomed ...Read More

C
ROSLINDALE, MA | November 2016 | positive

This species and its hybrids (Helleborus x hybridus) are among the best of garden perennials. In North America, the true species is rarel...Read More

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Cen
Hughesville, MD | September 2016 | positive

I love it. It occupies a very heavily shaded spot between a crepe myrtle and a shed. Blooms even in the snow and self propagates.

R
Auburn, WA | September 2012 | positive

I planted mine I think it is called 'white prince' or something close to it, under a large blue spruce in the shade-it really spreads and...Read More

M
Wallingford, PA | May 2012 | positive

Planted 10 Lenten Rose in a group 2 years ago. Over the winter, the leaves stay green but became rather leathery looking and start to br...Read More

F
Brunswick, MO | June 2011 | positive

I had looked forward to growing the Lenten rose for quite awhile. Several years ago I ordered three plants; one died; one flourished; on...Read More

T
San Jose, CA | February 2010 | negative

I've seen these growing at Sunset Magazine in Menlo Park, CA and at Filoli Gardens in San Mateo and they are lovely, but mine don't do we...Read More

C
Hallieford, VA | February 2010 | positive

We've had tons of snow and ice this winter; noticed the hellebores have browned, leathery-dead looking leaves. Can I just whack them off?...Read More

I
Charlottesville, VA | February 2010 | positive

For years I have grown Lenten Roses with great success and have them on my top 5 plant list. Sadly last year a large number of them were...Read More

P
Dallas, TX | February 2010 | positive

Our firm, David Rolston Landscape Architects in Dallas (www.dallasgardens.com), has been using Hellebore's for years. They are a great ad...Read More

G
Columbus, OH | February 2010 | positive

I'm addicted. It didn't take long! I saw one plant at Lowe's 2 years ago (I know, I got caught up in the moment) but it was sooo pretty; ...Read More

O
(Mary) Anchorage, AK (Zone 4b) | February 2010 | positive

I have coveted this little flower for years, and even tried it once before. No luck. I went to the local nursery and asked if they ever...Read More

M
Wheat Ridge, CO | February 2010 | positive

Here in Denver it took five years before this plant bloomed.
Every year I put a spade in the ground to dig it up and then decided ...Read More

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C
West Bloomfield, MI | February 2010 | positive

I have hundreds of Lenten Roses. If you have the room plant more than one different flower type or color next to each other. they will ...Read More

G
| February 2010 | positive

This is the first time I have ever heard of these, and would love to get some. I hope our local garden centers will have some in the spri...Read More

P
Archie, MO | February 2010 | neutral

I just planted mine last fall and they are doing well so far. I found a homemade "tonic" in a Jerry Baker book ,to repel mice,voles moles...Read More

S
Starkville, MS | February 2010 | neutral

I have grown a number of these plants-----all beautiful. Unfortunately, the voles have devoured many of them, and I can think of no way ...Read More

Q
Lebanon, OR | February 2010 | positive

Found several Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis) plants blooming this morning in my garden in Lebanon OR. Didn't know what they were bu...Read More

D
Berkeley, CA (Zone 9a) | March 2008 | positive

Beautiful flowers, especially for shade. Mine become infested with aphids.

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Columbus, OH (Zone 6a) | April 2007 | positive

This plant does very well in dry, deep shade. Love the foliage - it looks great almost all year, then you get to cut off any of the old l...Read More

L
Seattle, WA | May 2006 | positive

Lenten Rose does okay in Zone 8b (Seattle, Washington).

This is the place for Shade gardens. :)

D
Newark, OH | April 2006 | positive

Love this rugged plant that the deer will NOT touch. Have 20+ under some oak trees that delight us year round. This year are planting th...Read More

K
Ward, AR (Zone 7b) | April 2006 | positive

I bought mine after reading about them in our local paper. I am very pleased them. During our summer vacation last year our house-watch...Read More

G
(Zone 5a) | January 2006 | neutral

Blooms mid April in my garden.

B
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San Francisco, CA (Zone 10a) | May 2005 | positive

My favorite plant without a doubt. Seems to do well for me with more sun than what's suggested. I've been so surprised and pleased at h...Read More

L
Wayland, MA (Zone 6a) | February 2005 | positive

I have several of the plants they are such a welcome sight when the snow thaws to see something in bloom! mine are happy just about a...Read More

J
Tyler, TX (Zone 8a) | February 2005 | positive

The helleborus plants grow very well in Tyler, Tx. They are great shade plant and here they start to bloom in late January. They do not...Read More

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C
Oak Ridge, TN | January 2005 | positive

This plant does well in Oak Ridge, TN. I started with one plant given to me a few years ago and now I have 20 very nice plants blooming....Read More

P
(Zone 8b) | September 2004 | positive

A delightful evergreen perennial plant that forms dense clumps to 50cm wide. This plant likes a shady and moist soil in the shade. Likes ...Read More

V
Clarkston, GA | May 2004 | positive

This is my plants second year (purchased in gallon container Fall 2002) and was amazed by the amount of blooms I have had from February t...Read More

E
Huntsville, AL | March 2004 | positive

Never seen one before, but I'd heard of them. Three of them popped up in my North Alabama yard, which we just moved into last July. They'...Read More

O
Buffalo, NY | March 2004 | positive

The reason for cutting the old leaves off Lenten Roses because soon they will be lying against the ground and turning black. Don't worry...Read More

T
Piedmont, MO (Zone 6a) | February 2004 | positive

For colder zones, don't cut the evergreen leaves until February. I just cut mine yesterday (Feb 23) here in Zone 6. The right time is wh...Read More

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Mount Prospect, IL (Zone 5a) | February 2004 | positive

To achieve good blooms, you should cut back the leaves of helleborus DEPENDING on your zone placement. If you are in Zone 4 or 5, you sh...Read More

C
| December 2003 | positive

To keep Helleborus orientalis healthy, and produce a lot of flowers, you should prune back late in the year (exact timing depends ...Read More

J
J
Clairton, PA | May 2003 | positive

The very first flower in my garden every March. Beautiful soft green shades. It gets morning sun and afternoon shade. A must for any garden.

L
Grove City, OH (Zone 6a) | August 2002 | positive

This plant provides a beautiful backdrop all summer to flowering plants, and provides beautiful colorful blooms in the winter through lat...Read More

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T
Murfreesboro, TN (Zone 7a) | August 2002 | positive

One of my all-time favorite plants. Small plants set out this spring have put on a lot of new growth already; I'm hopeful they'll bloom this winter.

S
Oklahoma City, OK (Zone 7a) | August 2002 | positive

This plant has the most beautiful, bold foliage for shady areas. Grows in zones 4-9. Flowers bloom in late winter or early spring and c...Read More

D
D
| December 2000 | neutral

This is an attractive evergreen perennial that maintains its lush green leaves year-round. Its blooms, which are of various colors, begi...Read More

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