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Helleborus x hybridus

 
Helleborus x hybridus
Synonym(s) Helleborus orientalis
Common name lenten rose
Family ranunculaceae
Life cycle perennial
Flowers different (multi-)colors
Size 2'
Light part shade
Cultural notes ordinary garden soil
From seed sow fresh seed in summer to germinate the following winter/spring. dry-stored seed will need warm/cold stratification cycles to germinate.
detailed seed-starting info below
Seed ripenslate June

lenten rose
Helleborus orientalis and its hybrids are commonly known as lenten roses, for their early-spring bloom. Indeed, they are among the first flowers to show their stuff in our garden, with the first blooms usually appearing toward the end of March. The first one we had that bloomed for us is pictured above. It arrived as a tiny seedling in an envelope from the Netherlands, from a generous fellow gardener. Since then, many seed-grown ones have joined the fold.

Helleborus x hybridus
March 2005: buds brimming with promise
lenten rose
April 2005: Four years after receiving seeds from fellow HPS/MAG gardener Nancy, several of the resulting plants are blooming. I like this one especially.
Helleborus x hybridus
'Metallic Blue Lady' features very dark purple flowers with a slight sheen
lenten rose
This one was grown from a seed strain named 'White Picotee'. One of the prettiest ones in our garden.
Helleborus x hybridus
Grown from seed for 'White Lady' (first year it flowered)

We left this plant behind in our Pennsylvania garden (and wish it well); we don't grow it in Houston.

Seed for this plant is included on my seed trade list

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Seed-starting details for this plant

  1. Seed from Fall '03 trade, seeded to pots in early November '03, left at room temperature until mid-January, then set outside. Germination noticed in May '04. Varieties pink/white (50%G), dark red (50%G), H. orientalis ssp. guttatus (13%G).
  2. Seed for purple variety from '06 garden. Baggy 70F (8w) - 35F (10w; 67%G, 6-10w) - 70F (no further G, 15d)
  3. Seed for 'White with spots' from NARGS '09/'10 exchange, moist-packed. Baggy 35F (100%G, 3-5w)
  4. Seed for 'Goldfinch' from NARGS '11/'12 exchange, moist-packed. Baggy 35F (100%G, 5w)


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