Helleborus. Latin for hellebore, a perennial flowering plant from Europe and Asia. Most of the hybrid hellebores found in gardens in North America and Europe are often called the Lenten Rose, since they bloom in February and March, during the Lenten season. Many years ago, a friend gave me two Lenten Roses from her parents’ garden in the mountains of Virginia. I brought them with me from my former garden and have let them seed about, resulting in flowers ranging from cream to pink to dark rose. This year, they began blooming two weeks earlier than usual, a welcome sight in a dreary winter. Today, more blooms have opened, including a few rarer ones purchased for their dark mysterious colors.
Deer resistant, first to bloom in spring, happy in shade or sun, dry or wet, and dressed in handsome leathery foliage, this is a plant for all gardens. Enjoy the gallery of photos!
For more beautiful hellebore photos, including double forms and unusual colors, visit:
Pine Knot Farms
Northwest Garden Nursery
Sunshine Farm and Gardens
The Lenten Rose
To learn more about the beautiful hellebore, including its history and its variations, visit: hellebores.org
The Lovely Lenten Rose
Think spring! More music next week.
composerinthegarden 
A great set of photos. We have some hellebore in our garden too but I have never photographed them. Maybe I will now, if they are still in bloom.
Thanks, Ehpem! Mine are still in bloom here, they still have some buds though others are dropping their stamens. I like them at all stages of bloom and planting some in more shade than others extends the bloom season by a few weeks.
I’ll have to see if I can grow these plants here. I’m zone 3, but have heard a few people have had some success with them!
That’s good to know; I think they are rated to Zone 4 but there are always microclimates that can make a big difference.
Such beautiful flowers! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Lenten Rose before. This would make a great addition to my garden. 🙂
Robin, I think they would love your garden. They like any soil, will tolerate dry shade but do well in wet soil too. Great woodland plant, since they bloom so early. I’m hoping to add more new ones this year 🙂
What beautiful flowers! Love the photos and the info, can’t wait for your next post!
Thanks, Rebecca! They have opened up even more this week, every day prettier than the last.
Beautiful flowers! So great to be starting with Spring preparations!
Hi Mimo; you are so right! Spring is so tantalizingly close and the days I am able to work in the garden are sheer joy.
What a handsome species! Spring is here, finally 🙂
The foliage is attractive almost year round, too. It is virtually evergreen, and as the winter takes its toll, the old foliage gets cut back just as new leaves appear. Otherwise, very carefree. Spring and winter are still fighting it out here, we just got 2″ of snow, but now it is melting. Typical March weather!
I had never heard of Lenten Rose until a friend of mine recommended it for us (sometime in 2011). Then, I recently saw some at our church, and now here. Hmmm … I guess we should get these. Thanks for the tips regarding their location. Nice pics Lynn!
Thanks, Frank. I think they would do very well for you in your area. Plus, they are such a nice spirit booster in the early spring garden!
These are so beautiful. I just planted one late last summer that I brought from my Aunt’s garden. I’m not sure if it will bloom this year, but I hope so!
They establish pretty quickly, Paula, you may get a bloom or two. Once they are established, they bloom for about 2 months. Even the spent flowers are pretty; I leave them on and let them go to seed. It doesn’t seem to hurt the vigor of the parent plant and I’m getting some nice areas filled with the seedlings, with lots of color variation in the blossoms.
Beautiful photos and a great post. Your are right they are a plant for EVERY garden! I’m looking forward to going home to see ours now!
Oh, that will be such a treat for you, a nice contrast to the snowy Alps! They are just moving into full bloom now, and they last so long.
I love these plants! They are just starting to appear all over the hillsides around Bagni di Lucca.
Oh, that must be a sight! I would love to see Italy blooming in the spring – I still remember the red poppy fields in early summer around Lucca. Maybe you can post photos? 🙂
Lynn. These are so lovely. I am a gardener as well and I can hardly wait until spring. My favorite flower is the hibiscus, not only because of its beauty, but because it attracks hummingbirds. There is no peace like the peace a well-appointed flower garden or deck brings to the soul. I’m looking forward to seeing pictures of your garden when it is in full swing this summer. Cheers!
Eleanor, a gardener too! We have so much in common, it seems 🙂 I grow a lot of salvias on my deck to attract the hummingbirds, and they visit every morning during bloom season. “There is no peace like the peace a well-appointed flower garden or deck brings to the soul.” You are absolutely right in this – it is truly sanctuary.
Lovely photos!
Thanks, Chrisstov. I have never been in England in early spring to see for myself, but I hear that, along with snowdrops, that hellebores are extremely popular in gardens there.
Just gorgeous! What a treat; we had an amazing storm last night and everything’s coated with snow. Beautiful, but–wow–the hellebores photos really sing to my spirit today! Thank you ofr such a lovely break and reminder of what lies ahead.
Catherine, we had violent thunderstorms but little snow so far. I actually worked in the garden today 🙂 Spring is near for everyone, regardless of the expected turbulent weather – hope!
Lynn, These are beautiful photos; saturated, delicate, enticing. Love,Margie
Thanks, Margie – even on a cold windy day these posed very prettily.
I have not seen these on Canada’s East Coast but it sounds like they would grown here. I think I will see if I can locate some seeds. Lovely pics and thank you for link.
Joss, they are very hardy plants and my guess is that they would do well for you. I love mine!
Joss, here is some more info on growing the hellebore in cold climates. You might be better off trying to get a cutting or seedling from someone rather than start from seed. Or try sowing the seeds directly; I think they need some exposure to cold to germinate. Here’s the link: http://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/hellebore.html
We were surprised to see some in Riverside Park already a couple of weeks ago. They looked a little wilted, like last year’s left-over flowers. But they were trying!
Deer-resistant? 🙂
Well, there are no “deer proof” plants. But, the high alkaloid content of hellebores make them relatively pest resistant in the garden. Mine have bounced back from snow and bitter temps, and have gone from limp to upright with no losses. Last season’s foliage is tattered, time to trim it back to show off the blossoms and new leaves.