February's Plant of the Month -

Helleborus x ericsmithii 'Pirouette' 

-hybrid Lenten rose

by Adrienne Roethling,

Director of Curation and Mission Delivery

Helleborus x ericsmithii is an offspring of the white flowering, open-faced, Christmas rose and the blue foliage form of Corsican hellebore.  Behold, ‘Pirouette’ is a dynamic plant with the pink star-shaped flowers on blue-green foliage.

           

Grow Helleborus x ericsmithii ‘Pirouette’ in the woodland garden with sharp drainage.  For us, this Lenten rose has been growing on the slope of our future woodland garden since 2016.  Received as a 2 quart sized plants, it has quickly grown to a nice 15” x 15” mature plant.  The flowers are held above the leaves offering a stunning display.  Numerous stems begin emerging in January with the soft pink flowers opening in February.  The leaves are coarse, blue green with red veins and stems. Hellebores are drought tolerant once established.

 

Join or renew your membership for the month of February and your name will be included in a drawing for a complimentary plant of Helleborus x ericsmithii ‘Pirouette’.