Lenten Rose, French Kiss

Helleborus 'French Kiss'

Height: 18-24in
Spread: 18-24in
Zone: 4-9
Exposure: Part shade to full shade
Bloom Time/Color: March-April; pink
Uses: Massing, specimen, shade garden
Maintenance: Low
Other: Deer/rabbit resistant, cut flower, evergreen

Hellebores or Lenten roses are one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring and their evergreen foliage adds winter interest to the shade garden. 'French Kiss' was selected for its smoky, large pink petals with sporadic darker veining and semi-glossy, leathery, toothed dark green foliage. The flattened, saucer-shaped flowers bloom for weeks and make great cut or dried flowers thanks to the thicker petals. Lenten roses do best in fertile, moderately moist, well-drained soils in shade. All parts of the plant are poisonous.