Winter Color for the Shade Garden in Colorado
Boulder, Colorado area landscapes {Monthly Series}
Lenten Rose or Helleborus are Colorado’s late winter bloomers. Helleborus, commonly called hellebore or Lenten rose, is a perennial plant valued in Colorado for winter to early-spring bloom, evergreen to semi-evergreen foliage, and tolerance of cold conditions. Most cultivated species are native to Europe and western Asia.
They perform reliably along Colorado’s Front Range and are generally hardy to USDA Zones 4–5, with protection. Winter survival improves with snow cover and shelter from drying winds. Challenges include low winter humidity, freeze–thaw cycles, and intense sun. Hellebores tolerate cold well but are sensitive to desiccation. Heavy mulch and shade help with this. They do best in partial shade, protected from wind. Afternoon sun is discouraged. They like amended soil, so be sure to break up the persistent clay soil in our Boulder Colorado landscapes by amending with a good compost or planter’s mix soil. They are not extremely drought tolerant, and would not be considered xeric, but are a fabulous addition of color to a drab late February or early March landscape.
In Colorado, hellebores typically bloom from late February through April, depending on weather and exposure. Flowers persist for weeks and gradually change color as they age. Foliage provides year-round structure in shaded landscapes. They need minimal pruning and maintenance. Plant them with spring bulbs in a dappled shade landscape garden. They mix well with Windflower Snowdrop. See this link (May 2021).
Photos by Keith Williamson of Little Valley Wholesale Nursery
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