Lenten Rose | Plant Profile

Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis) are late winter to early spring blooming perennials. They may only grow to 1.5′ with large flowers. The cupped flowers are rose-like and slightly tilted. The flowers can be pink, purple, white and occasionally spotted. The complementary dark green foliage may remain evergreen in mild winters. The flowers appear in April, even with snow. These perennials may not be suitable for pets or children as all parts of these plants are poisonous.

Lenten Rose prefers fertile, medium moisture, well drained soils in part shade to full shade.

The flowering season of Lenten Rose is surprisingly early and can bring some much needed color to the long Pennsylvania winters. Plant near windows where the flowers can be appreciated from indoors. Group together in naturalized areas where they are able to self-seed to create an attractive groundcover.