Helleborus 'LUCY BLACK' hellebore, Lenten rose
size/type
low perennial,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
soil type
neutral to alkaline
soil moisture requirements
evenly moist (dislikes drought)
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:
Lucy Black is an adorable piece among hybrid Lenten roses which represents one of the two current holy grails in the field of hellebore hybridization: black flowers while the other desire is to get yellow flowers. Lucy Black bears single, 5-petalled, anemone-like flowers of extremely dark purple to almost black flowers atop 25-35 cm tall stems. They are decorated with numerous pale yellow stamens in the centre which even more enhances their unique appearance. Blooming begins in late February and flowers persist for 2-3 months.Evergreen leaves of Lucy Black are leathery, glossy, palmately divided into 5-7 oval leaflets, dark green with purple hues as they emerge. If they are exhausted and unsightly after the growing season you can remove them just before stems with new flower buds emerge.
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 many grey and dull days of late winter therefore thumbs up for hellebore! Harmful if eaten. Hardy to about -29 °C (USDA zone 5).
Last update 16-03-2023
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