Lenten rose ∗ The 10 best care and planting tips (Oriental hellebore)

origin

the Spring rose bears the scientific name Helleborus x hybridus and is often referred to as oriental hellebore (Helleborus orientalis). This name is misleading as the spring rose was created from crosses of the oriental hellebore and other species from the genus.

The name of the parent species Helleborus orientalis indicates the natural range of the plant. Its area stretches from southeastern Europe across the Balkans to the Black Sea. It grows in Turkey and in the Caucasus. In Germany, the oriental hellebore occurs partially overgrown. In Grabfeld, Baden-Württemberg near Pforzheim and in Langenburg there are some wild stocks.

growth

Helleborus hybrids grow as evergreen perennials. Their growth is slow. They reach heights of growth of up to 50 centimeters. Spring roses are considered to be particularly durable.

They have developed a special adaptation for the cold winter months. As soon as temperatures drop below freezing, the plants lower the cell pressure. This causes the leaves and stems to lie flat on the ground and look withered. This mechanism protects the plants from freezing. As soon as the temperatures rise again, the plants straighten up.

The parent species Helleborus orientalis is a non-stem-forming species. As the seedling grows, the main root dies. Every year the plant develops fresh side shoots on the rhizome, which develop numerous fine roots. The old roots are thickened and fleshy. They are colored brown to black. This growth enables it to multiply through division.

blossom

Lenten roses develop terminal flowers that are special from a botanical point of view. With them, the petals are not conspicuously colored, but the sepals appear in different colors. This means that they no longer take on the original protective function. They serve to attract potential pollinators. Each flower consists of five sepals and develops a diameter of up to ten centimeters. The sepals are retained until the seeds mature.

In the course of evolution, the bracts have transformed into short, cone-shaped flower organs that produce nectar. Lenten roses develop between five and 20 of these so-called nectaries, which provide food for the few insects at this time of the year. The flower is otherwise unspecialized so that it is visited and pollinated by the largest possible number of insects. Some varieties cannot be fertilized because they produce double flowers. The drooping flowers are typical of Helleborus species.

Flower color

Their base is colored green. Lenten roses shine in different shades. The palette ranges from white to creamy yellow to pink and black-red. There are some varieties that develop white flowers with colored markings.

Heyday

These plants open their flowers in winter. Depending on the weather, the first flowers appear from February or earlier. After being fertilized, the petals turn green.
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fruit

Helleborus hybrids develop as many follicles as there are ovaries that have been fertilized. After successful pollination, nectaries and stamens fall off. When the seeds are fully ripe, the follicles burst open along a pre-formed seam, releasing the seeds.

Seeds

The tiny seeds are black in color and have a shiny surface. Their shape is bean-shaped and elongated. They turn dull brown when the seed coat dries up. A follicle fruit contains between ten and 20 seeds.

leaves

Lenten roses have leathery leaves that are arranged at the base. The leaf blade is fingered and consists of five to eleven leaf lobes. They are arranged like a fan and appear inversely ovate or lanceolate. Its edge is sawn twice.

When the leaves sprout they are light green in color. In the course of the summer the color changes to a dark green. The old leaves will die off as soon as the young leaves appear.

use

The unusual flowering time of the spring rose makes it a decorative plant for the design of spring beds. They belong to the plants that usher in the growing season. At this time, most of the nature is still in the Hibernation. Lenten roses adorn easily visible beds, which are dominated by typical summer flowers over the course of the year.

Helleborus hybrids are also suitable for planting vessels that decorate balconies, terraces and entrance areas. Lenten roses beautify interiors and window sills as cut flowers when the vase is in a cool place. You can extend the shelf life by scratching the side of the stems at the bottom.

Ideal planting partners:

• Conifers
• Skimmien
• Japanese maples
• Lung herbs

Is Lenten Rose Poisonous?

The spring rose is considered to be highly poisonous in all parts of the plant. It contains the heart-active saponin Helleborin and Protoanemonin. The concentration of toxins is highest in the rhizome. Various symptoms of intoxication can occur after consumption. The symptoms range from nausea and dizziness to diarrhea to inflammation of the oral mucosa and cardiac arrhythmias. Consumption of large quantities leads to respiratory paralysis, which can be fatal.

Three mature seed pods are enough to cause severe symptoms of intoxication. The sap has irritating effects on the skin. You should therefore only plant the crop with caution if pets or children are playing in your garden.
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Which location is suitable?

Lenten roses prefer a partially shaded location under large deciduous trees and shrubs. They can be planted in full sun if the soil moisture is sufficiently high. Once the plants have found the right location, they keep coming back for decades. The soil should not tend to become waterlogged.
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What soil does the plant need?

A fresh substrate that ensures high permeability is ideal. Lenten roses feel good on very humus-rich clay soils. If the soil is very light and sandy, you can work in Dolomite lime, Bark humus and Horn shavings(€ 32.93 at Amazon *) Improve structure and nutrient content. As an alternative to dolomite lime, we recommend crushed eggshells. Lenten roses thrive when the soil is calcareous. Lenten roses also grow well on acidic soils.

Propagate spring rose

Adult plants can be reproduced by division, but the yield of viable plants is low. Lenten roses then need a lot of time and good care so that they can grow into stately plants again. If you want to share your plant, choose an overcast day in autumn. Spring is not suitable for this measure, as the plant blooms very early.

To avoid unnecessary injury during this procedure, you should tie the stems and leaves together with a ribbon. Cut off as large a root ball as possible and dig it out. Prick with one Digging fork through the center of the root ball. Attach another pitchfork and carefully move both garden tools apart. This tears the rhizome open until two separate plants have emerged. If your spring rose is a bit smaller, you can divide the rhizome with a knife.

Here's what to do after sharing:

• Plant sections immediately so that the roots do not dry out
• Pour thoroughly so that the rootstock is ten to 15 centimeters deep moistened
• remove damaged leaves to prevent disease

sowing

It can take three to four years for a plant to be in full bloom for the first time. Once the plant has successfully developed fruit, you can use seeds to propagate your spring rose. These offspring are often less floriferous than their parent plant.

Collect the fruit as soon as it is ripe. You can recognize ripe fruits by their yellow-green color. At this point, they'll open easily so you can free the seeds from their capsules. Clean the seeds and let them dry. If you sow the seeds in the fall, they will start germinating in November.

Lenten rose in a pot

Lenten roses grow slowly, but they can take up a lot of space over the course of their life. If you want to cultivate the plant in the tub, you should take into account the large amount of space required. Rejuvenate the plant every two to three years so that its splendid growth does not wither due to a lack of space.

Choose a thick-walled container that offers adequate protection from frost. Alternatively, you can cover the bucket with bubble wrap or Garden fleece Wrap around so that the rhizome does not freeze.

Use a mixture of these as a substrate Potting soil and as high a proportion as possible humus. You can also use potted potting soil with a small amount of peat. The spring rose is less suitable as a houseplant. It also prefers an outdoor location in the bucket.

Pour spring rose

The spring rose likes permanently moist conditions in the substrate. It survives short dry periods, but responds to this with a reduced number of flowers. As soon as the top layer of soil has dried, you should water the plant.

You can use the finger test to check the moisture in the substrate. If the earth feels dry and crumbly, the spring rose needs fresh water. During the summer drought, you should check the moisture content several times a day. Lenten roses tolerate water with small amounts of lime. Waterlogging should be avoided as it leads to root rot.

Fertilize spring rose properly

Helleborus hybrids are considered to be weakly consuming. To support their vitality, you can occasionally fertilize. If the plant is about to bloom, it will enjoy a compost or fertilization Rock flour.(€ 12.33 at Amazon *) Between February and May you can use a liquid fertilizer if necessary.

In autumn, you can spread sticks, bark mulch or withered leaves on the ground. This layer acts as protection against the cold in young plants and supplies the plant with nutrients in the next spring when the soil organisms have decomposed the material. If your spring rose grows on sandy soil, you can do something in autumn Algae lime distribute on the substrate.

Cut the spring rose correctly

After winter, withered leaves are removed. Be careful with this care measure so that you do not damage the freshly sprouting parts of the plant. Brown or black leaves should be cut off immediately to prevent diseases from spreading. After flowering, it is advisable to cut off the ripening fruit clusters.
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How do I transplant properly?

Lenten roses develop a sturdy rhizome that, with increasing age, reaches deeper and deeper into the earth. Therefore, when transplanting, there is a risk that many roots will be damaged. At the new location, the plant has difficulty developing the stately growth it showed at the old location. It takes a high degree of horticultural sensitivity for the spring rose to recover after transplanting.

Hardy

Young specimens need winter protection. Put a layer of compost or bark mulch on the ground. Adult spring roses are hardy. The early flowering species survive the winter without any problems. This is useful for older plants Mulching the nutrient supply in the coming spring.

When the thermometer drops below -15 degrees Celsius, the leaves die. They turn black and look unsightly. This does not cause any problems for the plant. It sprouts again shortly before flowering. The plant must be watered on frost-free days, as the metabolism is not completely stopped even in winter.

How to protect potted plants:

• Wrap the planter with burlap, fleece or foil in October
• Bucket on one Styrofoam plate(€ 43.00 at Amazon *) place
• Water on frost-free days

Diseases

The winter bloomers rarely fall victim to the virus disease Black Death, which is fatal. After infection, the veins on leaves and flowers turn black. Countermeasures are not known. To prevent it from spreading, you should completely remove the plant and dispose of it with household waste.

Pests

Lenten roses are attacked by some pests that spread under certain conditions. The pests weaken the plants, so that quick action is necessary.

Aphids

Lenten roses are often plagued by aphids. The pests suck the sap from the leaves of the winter bloomers. They prefer to spread on fresh leaves and young plants. Regularly wipe the aphids off the plant parts. Use a cloth soaked in detergent for this measure. Stinging nettle brew strengthens the vitality of the plant and has a preventive effect against the spread of aphids. In the event of an infestation, you can spray the entire plant with the brew.

Root nematodes

If the plant tends to stunted growth, which does not subside even after changing the care, root nematodes may be the cause. The microscopic roundworms suck nutrients from the fine roots so that they can no longer supply the plant. It is difficult to control the pests. Dispose of infested plants so that the pests cannot spread.

sorts

• Spring Promise (R) Elly?: Particularly early flowering variety with double flowers. Flower color pink.
• Winter Angels Anna’s Red: Purple flowers. Blooms from December to April.
• Winter Angels Claudia: White flowers with red to purple dot markings.