Polk County Master Gardeners
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Lenten Rose
The Lenten Rose is one of those must-have plants for your shade garden,
but it is not a rose at all. Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis) is actually a
member of the Buttercup family, but no less beautiful for that.
It is an early spring bloomer, producing large bell-shaped flowers in white,
pink or purple from late winter through spring. The blooming season lasts about
four months, and the leathery evergreen foliage is attractive all year. It is
hardy in zones 4 through 7, so it survives nicely in Arkansas, although it
appreciates a little protection from the winter winds. The Lenten Rose is even
deer proof, although this comes at a price: the plant is poisonous, so you need
to consider whether small children are likely to be trying to use it as a snack.
The plants grow from 18 to 24 inches tall and spread 2 to 3 feet wide. They
like fertile, slightly alkaline soil, partial shade, and moist (but
well-drained) conditions. A good organic mulch helps to make them happy. They do
not like heat or intense sunlight, and they are not too fond of being divided,
although that is one of the ways you can get more plants. You just need to be
careful not to injure the roots - they are brittle and easily damaged.
The Lenten Rose can be grown from seed, but it is certainly not easy to do
so, and it may take three years from seed to flowering. Check with your local
nurseries to see if they either have Lenten Roses or can get them for you.
Be sure to take time to go by the Horticultural Booth at the Polk County
Fair. There should be some interesting plants to see and lots to learn. The
Master Gardeners will have people on hand to provide you with more information.
Our Master Gardener web site now has a new address:
http://www.uaex.edu/polk/MG/. Be sure
to check us out for lots more information about gardening in the Mena area.
By Barbara M. Tobias
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