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Botanical name: Helleborus niger ‘Josef Lemper’
Cup-shaped pure white flowers will age to light green; cool weather can produce pink tinged blooms; flowers emerge in late fall to early winter, when most others are finished; a welcome sight in the garden.
Other names: Joseph Lemper Hellebore, Lenten Rose, Winter Rose
| Hardiness zone | 4a |
|---|---|
| Flower color | white |
| Foliage type | evergreen |
| Plant form | upright spreading |
| Mature height | 18 inches |
| Spread | 22 inches |
| Light requirements | partial shade to shade |
| Moisture requirements | average to moist |
| Plant origin | import |
Josef Lemper Hellebore features showy nodding white cup-shaped flowers with buttery yellow eyes at the ends of the stems from late fall to early winter that fade to light green over time. Its serrated oval compound leaves remain dark green in color throughout the year. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.
Josef Lemper Hellebore is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.
This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Josef Lemper Hellebore is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Mass Planting, Rock/Alpine Gardens, Border Edging, General Garden Use, Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
Josef Lemper Hellebore will grow to be about 15 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 22 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 15 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years.
This plant does best in partial shade to shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.
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