The delicate flowers of Lenten Rose make a perfect backdrop for spring-flowering bulbs and other perennials. Photo taken by Hugh Conlon, UT Extension Area Ornamental Horticulture Specialist. >>>download photo

Submitted by Susan L. Conlon

Winter is almost over, and the spring garden has almost sprung. During the winter, did you ask yourself, “What plant has interest that I can enjoy throughout all the seasons?” Lenten Rose, or Helleborus x hybridus, may be the answer. Lenten Rose is a durable perennial that performs well in shade gardens, has evergreen foliage and produces colorful blooms in early spring.

Lenten Rose has recently been named the 2005 Perennial Plant of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association, a national organization dedicated to the promotion of perennial plants.

There are several reasons to include this plant in your garden. In late winter to early spring, Lenten Rose starts to bloom and will continue to do so for up to three months. Bloom colors range from white and light pink to red and deep purple. There are single- and double-flowering forms and bicolor blooms, too.

After flowering, enjoy the clean, dark green foliage that makes this plant a must-have in any shade garden. Clumps are generally 2 feet wide by 2 feet tall, and the foliage adds a unique bold texture to the shaded landscape. For this, Lenten Rose makes a perfect backdrop for the delicate blooms of spring-flowering bulbs and other perennials, such as Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis). If the foliage gets tattered and rough-looking in late winter, simply cut it back as the new leaves emerge. Doing this prior to blooming also improves the display of the blooms.

This easy-to-grow plant prefers a rich, well-drained soil. It should be planted in a partial shade to full shade location. Once established, Lenten Rose is a tough, drought tolerant perennial.

Lenten Rose also requires very little care. Unlike many other garden perennials, Lenten Rose does not typically require dividing every 3-5 years. According to the Perennial Plant Association, established clumps of Lenten Rose can be left alone for up to 20 years. If your Lenten Rose needs dividing, keep in mind that it will take the divisions a little time to recover. This plant recovers from dividing slower than most, so it will appreciate a little patience and tender care.

Lenten Rose is a great shade perennial to pair with other plant textures and colors like ferns and impatiens. This plant is also a good companion to other early spring bloomers, such as Barrenwort (Epimedium sp.).

Lenten Rose is used quite nicely as either a specimen plant or in mass in a shade garden. Allow this plant to naturalize in a woodland setting. Because flowers can hang just below the foliage, consider planting Lenten Rose on a slope or hillside to enjoy viewing the flowers from another angle. For those whose gardens are typically buffets for deer, good news! Lenten Rose is a deer-resistant perennial!

Plant Lenten Rose in your garden now and enjoy its evergreen foliage all year. When it gets to be late winter next year, and there seems to be nothing to enjoy out in your garden, your Lenten Rose will signal that it’s time to look forward to spring.

Submitted by Susan Conlon, Volunteer Coordinator for the UT Gardens and a graduate student in the University of Tennessee Department of Plant Sciences. Conlon works under the guidance of Dr. Susan Hamilton, director of the UT Gardens. The UT Gardens are located on Neyland Drive in Knoxville. They are free and open to the public seven days a week during daylight hours.

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