Helleborus 'Epb21' CHARMER® hellebore, Lenten rose
size/type
low or groundcovering,low perennial
usual height
0,3-0,4m
usual width
0,3-0,5m
leaves
evergreen broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
February-April
location
semi-shade / partial sun
USDA zone (lowest)
5 (down to -29°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Hellebore (Lenten rose) is not a new plant to Czech and Slovak gardens. I remember those flowering stems that surprisingly pushed through the snow in late winter and I kept asking grandma how come that a plant can flower while there is still snow on the ground. These evergreen perennials are still very popular, mainly thanks to newly hybridized varieties with fantastic flowers.
Description of the plant:
CHARMER® is a Lenten rose bred by Rodney Davey from the UK, one of his many beautiful hybrids released after 12 or more years of hard breeding work in 2019. It is a success of crossing h. lividus, h. niger, and h. x sternii for not only a beautiful bloom but also handsome foliage. That is a combination not always present in many hellebore varieties. CHARMER® belongs to a collection named Frostkiss™ in Europe and Winter Angels™ in the USA. CHARMER® hellebore produces single flowers with dark raspberry pink petals with about a million maroon dots for a unique metallic appearance. The centre is decorated with a tuft of creamy stamens. Flowers open atop about 30-40 cm tall, dark red stems. Leaves are evergreen, leathery, very dark green with chartreuse marbling. It may start flowering during warmer days of late autumn or in late winter and continue for about 2 months.
Hellebore likes heavy, evenly moist, neutral to alkaline, rich in humus soil in dappled shade or filtered sun. This hybrid will prefer at least half a day with direct sunlight. Fertilizing will increase flowering and help the leaves remain strong and nice throughout the winter. Grow it somewhere near your house entrance or close to the window you look out of frequently so that you can enjoy the plant when it starts flowering since at that time the weather outside is not yet ideal for walking around the garden. The flowers can cheer up a number of grey and dull days of late winter therefore thumbs up for hellebore! Hardy to min. -29°C (USDA zone 5).
Last update 30-11-2020
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