Lenten rose ‘HGC Pink Frost’
* Common name: Lenten rose ‘HGC Pink Frost’
Lenten rose ‘HGC Pink Frost’
National Garden Bureau
* Botanical name: Helleborus x ballardiae ‘HGC Pink Frost’
* What it is: A deer-resistant, shade perennial with glossy evergreen leaves and rosy-pink flowers that can emerge as early as late winter, continuing into early spring.
* Size: 18 inches tall, 2-foot spread
* Where to use: Cluster in any shady or partly-shaded bed. Excellent as groundcover under trees.
* Care: Keep damp the first season, then water usually not needed. Scatter balanced organic granular fertilizer over the bed in early spring. Snip off flower stems after bloom. Also snip off any leaves that have browned, usually at end of winter. Let green leaves stand.
* Great partner: Any big shade tree. Lenten rose tolerates shade and roots, and it makes a low-maintenance flowering carpet. Pennsylvania sedge or liriope make good grassy-textured partners.
Are Lenten rose plants rabbit resistant? Almost every flowering plant I plant is consumed by rabbits! Am looking for a shade perennial that will last year to year without rabbits devouring them. Thanks.
Steve,
Yes, helleborus are toxic and usually one of the most animal-resistant shade perennials of any type. Good choice.
Some of the plants I see the flowers are taller or just above the leaves. My plants the flowers seem to be lower than the leaves. Is it due to the plant that I have, unknown which one I have. They are different that’s why I got 3 plants. But not sure if I like them now. These are planted up against my house with just a little morning sun. Is this normal for what I am explaining?
Thank you,
Betsy
Betsy,
Yes, different varieties of Lenten rose (Helleborus) hold their flowers in different ways. That’s likely just the natural look of the plants you bought and won’t change as they age or from season to season. Maybe the look will grow on you. If not, you can always dig them and give them to friends or neighbors.