The Lenten rose (bot. Helleborus orientalis) - also known as the spring Christmas rose or oriental hellebore - is a colorful spring bloomer. In contrast to the related Christmas rose, the species blooms not only white, but also in many other, strong tones - and often at the end of winter, when all other garden plants are still in deep hibernation. Once established, the Lenten rose needs little care.
What should you know about spring roses?
Lenten roses (Helleborus orientalis) are hardy, perennial perennials that bloom in many colors and grow up to 50 cm high. They prefer partially shaded locations with well-drained, humus-rich soil and require little care. Propagation occurs by sowing or division.
Origin and distribution
The wild spring rose or oriental hellebore (bot. Helleborus orientalis) has its natural distribution area in the Near East between Turkey and the Caucasus. Here the pretty early bloomers grow primarily on the edges of forests and in clearings. The species is closely related to the other Helleborus genera such as the Christmas rose, with which they also cross. The resulting (and still emerging) hybrids, the so-called Helleborus orientalis hybrids, are popular ornamental plants in many gardens.
Usage
As a particularly early-flowering species, Lenten roses are best shown off when you combine different-colored flowering varieties or combine Hellebores with equally early-flowering shrubs, early perennials (such as lungwort) or bulbous flowers. Particularly recommended are wood anemones (Anemone nemorosa), snowdrops (Galanthus), fairy flowers (Epimedium) or fragrant violets (Viola). Furthermore, later gaps in the herbaceous bed can be avoided if you plant the spring roses together with ferns and ornamental grasses as well as later-blooming perennials - for example cranesbill (geranium).
Helleborus is not only suitable for cultivation in the garden bed, but can also be kept in a pot on the balcony or terrace.
Appearance and growth
In contrast to the related Christmas rose, Lenten roses are significantly longer-lived: in a suitable location, they can only last up to approx.50 centimeter tall perennials can live up to 40 years. The wintergreen plants grow very slowly and gradually form bushy, loose clumps. The species goes wild very easily, with the different varieties mixing with each other and creating new combinations. Like all Helleborus species, spring roses belong to the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae).
leaves
The long-stemmed, strikingly leathery leaves sit basally on the rhizomes of the strong root system. The robust, dark green foliage is on the plant all year round, with the old leaves dying after the new ones sprout.
Flowers and flowering time
The mostly simple cup flowers of the Lenten rose have a wide range of colors: Varieties with plain white, cream, yellow, pink and dark red flowers as well as speckled, dotted or striped varieties are available commercially. Furthermore, there are now varieties with double flowers. The flower bowls, which measure up to ten centimeters in diameter, sit on loose, branched shoots and characteristically hang slightly downwards. Depending on the weather, they appear as early as February and can often show their splendor until the end of April. Like hydrangeas, the five petals often turn green as they wither.
Fruits
After flowering, the follicles typical of the buttercup family form, which contain ripe seeds in early summer. If possible, do not cut off spent shoots, as spring roses sow themselves in suitable locations. Due to their rather sedate growth, the plants do not become overgrown, but once planted in the garden, they often come back again and again for decades. However, the seedlings are not true to the variety, so the resulting plants have different flower colors.
Toxicity
Like all hellebore plants, the pretty spring roses are unfortunately very poisonous. Even consuming small amounts of the plant can cause severe symptoms of poisoning, which is why a doctor should be consulted immediately in such a case. The saponin contained in it and the typical glycosides helleborein and hellebrin are particularly toxic. Escaping plant sap irritates the skin of sensitive people, which is why you should always wear gloves and eye protection when pruning.
The plant owes its German name “hellebore” to its ancient habit of drying and pulverizing the rhizomes and using them as a sniff. During the Middle Ages, Helleborus species such as spring roses were also in demand as medicinal plants, although these days they are not recommended due to their toxicity.
Which location is suitable?
In the right location, spring roses will come back again and again on their own, even without further care. The plants feel most comfortable in places that resemble their natural habitats. Therefore, if possible, place them in light partial shade under larger deciduous trees or shrubs or on the edge of woody plantings. However, it shouldn't be too dark there, otherwise the distinctive flowers won't be visible. In principle, Helleborus also feels comfortable in full sun locations, as long as the soil is sufficiently moist.
Floor
Place spring roses in well-drained, fresh, humus-rich loamy soil. This can easily contain lime, because just like the related Christmas roses, Helleborus hybrids are very lime tolerant. The robust late winter bloomers also generally tolerate an acidic pH value very well. Furthermore, it is important to pay attention to the growing space requirements of the plants as they age, as they gradually spread out over time.
Planting Lenten roses correctly
Lendar roses are best planted after flowering in spring. Proceed as follows:
- Dig a sufficiently large planting hole.
- This should be twice the size of the root ball.
- Maintain a planting distance of at least 15 centimeters.
- Loose the soil well.
- Add mature garden compost and leaf humus to the excavation.
- Plant the spring roses.
- Press the soil well and water the plants.
- Remove the flower stems from freshly planted spring roses.
- This is how the perennials grow faster.
- Mulch the root area to keep the soil moist.
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Watering spring roses
Lendar roses love a slightly moist soil and need this if they are to bloom profusely again next spring. Although the signs of spring can cope with drought for a short time, they often produce fewer flowers afterwards. So make sure you have enough water, especially during dry periods in the summer months. However, do not overdo it, because excessive moisture or even waterlogging will result in root rot for the Lenten rose. For this reason, the soil must be well-drained so that rain and irrigation water can seep away quickly.
Fertilize Lenten roses properly
Lengen roses do not need fertilization on humus-rich soils, which is why adding compost in the spring is completely sufficient.read more
Cut Lenten roses correctly
Pruning is basically not necessary, but you should remove the old leaves in late autumn. The reason is fungal diseases such as black spot disease, which primarily attacks the leaves of the Lenten rose in the cold season. In order to curb self-sowing, cutting back the withered shoots can also make sense.
Propagate Lenten roses
Lenzenroses can be easily propagated both by sowing and by division, although the offspring are not true to the variety. So let yourself be surprised by the flower colors that future generations develop.
Divide in late summer or early fall and select a larger plant that is already well established in its location for this purpose. Dig them up and make sure that each section has at least two shoots. Be sure to wear gloves to avoid coming into contact with the plant juices.
The seeds must be stratified before germination - i.e. H. go through a cold period - and must not be covered with soil when sowing. Spring roses are light germinators.read more
Wintering
Lenzenroses are absolutely winter hardy and - with the exception of specimens cultivated in pots - do not require any special winter protection. In autumn you can simply mulch the plants again and thus provide an additional source of nutrients. In rainy winters, applied brushwood protects plants from excessive moisture. At temperatures of minus 15 degrees Celsius, the leaves often die, but sprout again in spring.
Diseases and pests
The Lenten rose is quite insensitive to diseases and pests. The only problem that can become problematic in autumn or winter is the so-called black spot disease, which manifests itself as brownish to black spots on the leaves. Therefore, cut off the leaves as a preventive measure. Furthermore, aphids like to eat winter bloomers, but they can be quickly driven away with a targeted shower or occasional spraying with nettle broth.
Tip
Lenzenroses are loyal to their location and usually react ungraciously to being transplanted. When dividing the perennial, make sure that it goes back into the ground just as deep as it was before - and not deeper.
Species and varieties
Basically, the commercially available Lentenrose hybrids are no longer hybrids, but rather hybrids of different Helleborus species. Hardly any variety is the same as another, and new varieties are constantly emerging - for example as a result of the plants self-sowing in their own garden. The most beautiful varieties are, for example, the following:
- 'Blue Metallic Lady': growth height of up to 40 centimeters, impressive growth width of up to 60 centimeters, shiny metallic, purple-red flowers
- 'Double Aubergine': growth height up to 60 centimeters, double, dark purple flowers
- 'Favorit': very robust variety that only blooms from March, growth height of up to 30 centimeters
- 'Spring Dance': growth height up to 60 centimeters, multicolored pink and yellow patterned flowers
- 'Yellow Butterfly': growth height up to 60 centimeters, yellow flowers with red veining
- 'Party Dress Ewelina': growth height up to 40 centimeters, double, white flowers with striking red dot grain inside
- 'Pink Lady': growth height up to 40 centimeters, simple, strong pink flowers
- 'Red Lady': growth height up to 40 centimeters, simple, dark red flowers
- ‘Rock’n’Roll’: growth height up to 60 centimeters, double flowers with strikingly dotted, pink-red petals
- 'Tango': growth height up to 60 centimeters, double flowers with pink and white dotted petals and yellow center
- 'White Lady': growth height up to 40 centimeters, white-greenish flowers
- 'White Spotted Lady': growth height up to 40 centimeters, white, strongly red spotted flowers
