Honeymoon® Paris in Pink Lenten Rose

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Hellebores, also known as Lenten Roses due to the timing of their blooms and the appearance that can resemble a rose, are that mysterious perennial that many gardeners have never planted before. They are legendary in their ability to sprout and bloom in late winter, early spring, and sometimes when there is still snow on the ground. Honeymoon Paris in Pink Lenten Rose is not going to disappoint you in that regard, it is a vigorous early bloomer that will wow you with its 3 to 4 inch wide blossoms and beautiful light pink/dark pink color contrast on its sepals. A secret to its ability to bloom in cold weather, and last for weeks in full bloom, is the fact that they do not have petals, but rather sepals, a tougher, thicker form of a petal that takes the ups and downs of the weather and makes beautiful results from it. Native to parts of Europe and Asia, Hellebores have been cultivated at least since the early 1800s for gardens around the world. Hellebores hybridize easily and naturally on their own, creating a plethora of bloom colors ranging from green to white, pink and nearly black, to call out just a few. Paris in Pink is hardy in Zones 4 to 9, handling the subzero weather of Northern regions as succinctly as it handles the hot humid summers in the South. They traditionally grow in seaside environments, so are very salt tolerant. It is primarily a shade to part shade perennial, handling only partial shade in the colder regions of its hardiness zone and needing complete shade in the hottest regions. Deer and rabbits wont browse on these plants, and all parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested. Honeymoon® Paris in Pink Lenten Rose Care Hellebores need well drained soil in order to perform the miracles they do each year when blooming in late winter. Soggy soil will be the death of them very quickly. Plant in full or light shade, and in well draining average to fertile soil for best results. While they are drought tolerant once established, water regularly to get them started, then give them water to maintain a slightly moist environment when rainfall is inadequate. Hellebores will tolerate a variation in the pH of the soil from acidic to alkaline. Mulch heavily in the fall to protect them in harsh winter regions. They will readily reseed themselves with new seedlings popping up from the mulch. Deadheading is not necessary to get continued flowering over the season from your hellebore, but you will want to do so to keep the soil area clear of debris, to encourage reblooming, remove any chance of plant diseases from forming on spent flowers, and to encourage your plant to spend its energy beefing up its root system. Cut stem down to the base foliage. If you keep the spent flowers on, the plant will produce seed and will produce new seedlings in the late winter. Clean up dead foliage in the late winter, early spring before new growth appears. Honeymoon® Paris in Pink Lenten Rose Spacing Space your plants about 18 to 24 inches apart for best performance. Paris in Pink will grow to about 24 inches tall and wide, so needs room to spread out. These perennial favorites of die hard gardeners will fill your need for early color, and will give you year after year of beautiful long lasting blooms. You will want to grow these in your garden this spring.