Helleborus 'Cinderella' VERBOOM CINDERELLA hellebore, Lenten rose
Helleborus
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.
VERBOOM CINDERELLA hellebore was created by the Dutch breeder Henk Meijer for Kwekerij Verboom B.V. It is Helleborus orientalis hybrid producing 5-6 cm across, semi-double, white flowers with plentiful and conspicuous, dark maroon freckles. The flowers typically have 3 layers of petals and sepals, which beautifully highlight the centre with creamy white stamens. Under favourable winter weather, it can bloom as early as February, but should late winter be too cold and bring strong frost, it waits until March to flower freely for up to 2 months. The stems are 30-40 cm high, with newly opened flowers facing upwards and later nodding like a bellflower as they mature.
The evergreen leaves are leathery, palmately divided, dark green, and glossy. As they may become exhausted after winter, the plant will not be harmed if you trim all the leaves before blooming to allow the stems with fresh flowers to stand out. New leaves will emerge in spring. The variety is protected by several patents, including PP20832 (USA – 2011) and 31344 (EU – 2012).
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! Harmful if eaten. Hardy to about -29°C (USDA zone 5).
Last update 06-04-2025
