Wedding Party® Confetti Cake Lenten Rose

Size

We have Hans Hansen, a hybridizer for Walters Gardens in Michigan to thank for this beautiful Lenten Rose Wedding Party Confetti Cake. Hans is renowned for his eye for quality and vigor and the hybrids he produces are nothing short of spectacular! Confetti Cake is no exception with its beautiful snow white double blooms with just a sprinkle of burgundy confetti in the center and the green and white stamens contrasted by the dark green leathery leaves. This late winter, early spring bloomer will intrigue you with its 2 to 3 inch blooms that arrive earlier than any other spring blooming plant and remain evergreen all year round. Hellebores are native to mountainous regions of Europe, along the Balkan region to the Adriatic Sea. They are vigorous, hardy alpine plants that grow in full to part shade. They are capable of growing in sub zero conditions of the extreme North and also take the hot humid summers of the Deep South with equal vigor. There are not many plants that have such a wide range of habitat conditions and look this lovely. Deer and rabbit dont browse on them as they are bitter tasting and are poisonous if consumed. They are also salt tolerant so Coastal gardeners can appreciate their beauty in their shade gardens and Northern gardeners wont have to fret about sidewalk or highway salt effects. Wedding Party® Confetti Cake Lenten Rose Care Categorized as one of the easiest to care for spring perennials, Hellebores can tolerate a wide range of soil types. They prefer a well drained moist rich soil full of organic matter, but will thrive even in average soil, like sand or clay. Once established they are fairly drought resistant. They also thrive in any alkaline to neutral soil, being effective at taking nutrients just about anywhere they are planted. They will appreciate a consistently moist soil, so water during extremely dry periods and apply a mulch to help retain that moisture. They send their roots deep, so when first planted, be sure to loosen the soil about 6 inches deeper than you need to give their roots an easier time. Hellebores will slowly fill your garden bed over the years. They prefer to be planted in full shade, but will tolerate some light sun. Hot afternoon sun will burn the leaves. All you need for fertilizer is an application of well composted organic material once or twice a year. Deadhead the spent flowers to keep the plant focused on flower production. If you leave the flowers after they die, the plant will proceed into the seed production stage. Being a hybrid, the seeds may not produce plants similar to their parent plant. Remove any wilted or yellowed branches and leaves to keep the plant tidy and reduce chances of any plant diseases from taking hold. Mulch your plants in late fall, then in late winter, early spring, move some of the mulch away from the plant to encourage the new growth. Wedding Party® Confetti Cake Lenten Rose Spacing Spacing plants properly is important in every shade garden habitat due to the propensity of shade plants to develop fungal diseases. Allow 18 to 24 inches of space in between plants to aid in good air circulation. They will mature at about 24 inches tall and wide. Divide crowded plants every 2 to 3 years by digging them up in late winter before new growth appears, and dividing the roots, making sure there are at least two buds per root. Plant a little deeper than the ground level but not too deep. Mulch to protect your new plant divisions from the cold. There are many colors of Lenten Rose available on the market today, consider mixing the colors for a spectacular display in your late winter, early spring garden.