Product Description
Helleborus 'Flower Girl' (20)ct Flat
WEDDING PARTY® Series
Common Name: Lenten Rose
Walters Gardens hybridizer Hans Hansen has a passion for hellebores. In his breeding work, he selects for plants with notable vigor, showy floral displays with large numbers of blossoms per plant, and rich flower colors. The WEDDING PARTY® series showcases his double flowered selections, available in numerous, beautiful color shades.
'Flower Girl' bears 2½-3", double blush to light pink flowers.
Hellebores are the harbingers of spring, blooming for six weeks or more beginning in late winter. They are often flowering during the Christian season of Lent, from which they get their common name, Lenten Rose. This is the perfect plant for naturalizing in moist, woodland areas where its extensive root system will spread as far as it is allowed.
Hellebores are enjoyable to grow because they are low-maintenance and disease/pest-free. Simply trim back last year's foliage in the spring. They can adapt to almost any growing conditions. Though they prefer rich, moist, organic soil, they will also grow in sandy or clay soil. They can even tolerate short periods of drought. The soil pH can range anywhere from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.
Hellebores are shade plants that need to be protected from the hot afternoon sun. They will grow in full shade under large deciduous trees as long as they receive full sun from winter to spring before the trees get their leaves.
To increase the number of hellebores in your garden, mulch them heavily in the fall. The new seedlings will grow in this mulch come spring and can then be transplanted elsewhere in the garden.
WARNING: Hellebores are poisonous. Do not consume any part of the plant!
Height: 18.0-24.0 Inches
Spread: 18.0-24.0 Inches
Hardiness Zones: 4,5,6,7,8,9
Flower Color: Pink shades
Foliage Color: Green shades
Part Shade (4-6 hrs. Direct Sun) - Full Shade (< 4 hrs. Direct Sun)
Low to Average Water Needs
Average to Fertile Soil Quality
Bloomtime: Early Spring - Mid Spring
Bee Friendly
Deer and Rabbit Resistant
Evergreen
Growth Rate: Slow
Border Plant, Container, Cut Flower, Drought Tolerant, Easy To Grow, Mass Planting, Salt Tolerant
A Charming Addition to Your Shade Garden
Helleborus 'Flower Girl' is a delightful perennial, perfect for adding a touch of elegance to any shade garden. This charming plant, with its delicate double blooms in shades of blush to light pink, is a welcome sight in late winter and early spring. 'Flower Girl' belongs to the Wedding Party series, a collection of hellebores bred by Hans Hansen and prized for their vibrant colors, abundant blooms, and exceptional vigor. This series is particularly notable for its double-flowered selections, which come in a wide array of beautiful colors.
'Flower Girl' is a standout variety with large, double flowers that can reach up to 3 inches in diameter. The petals have a soft, vanilla-white base color, often blushed with light pink to maroon, and some blossoms may even be speckled with pink. The center of each flower boasts a cluster of ivory stamens, adding to its delicate beauty. These exquisite blooms emerge in late winter and early spring, rising on sturdy stems above the glossy, dark green, evergreen foliage.
This Lenten Rose typically grows to a height of 18-24 inches with a similar spread. It forms a bushy, upright clump, making it an excellent choice for borders, containers, or mass plantings. 'Flower Girl' is also a valuable addition to the garden ecosystem, as its flowers provide valuable nectar for early pollinators.
One of the most remarkable features of 'Flower Girl' is its extended bloom time. It is known to bloom for up to 6 weeks, beginning in late winter and continuing well into spring. Even after the initial bloom period, the spent blooms retain their charm and remain attractive for several weeks, prolonging the plant's season of interest.
Care and Growth Habits Helleborus 'Flower Girl' is relatively low-maintenance and easy to grow. It thrives in partial shade to full shade and prefers fertile, humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil. While it prefers consistent moisture, it is important to avoid soils that are prone to drying out or staying wet.
- Light 'Flower Girl' prefers partial shade to full shade. It can tolerate full shade under deciduous trees, as long as it receives adequate sunlight during the winter and spring before the trees leaf out.
- Soil This plant is adaptable and can grow in various soil types, including sandy or clay soil. However, it performs best in rich, moist, organic soil. It is not particularly fussy about soil pH, but it thrives in rich soils.
- Watering Water regularly, especially during dry periods, but avoid overwatering. Hellebores can tolerate short periods of drought once established.
- Fertilizing Fertilize in early spring with a balanced fertilizer. You can also apply a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season.
- Pruning Remove faded flower stems to promote new growth and maintain a neat appearance. Cut back old foliage in late fall or early spring before new growth emerges.
Other Care Considerations
- Mulching: Apply a layer of mulch in the fall to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Protection: Select a sheltered site to protect your hellebores from cold winter winds.
- Toxicity: It is important to note that Helleborus plants are toxic to both humans and animals. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling the plant and keep it away from children and pets.
Helleborus 'Flower Girl' grows at a medium rate and can be expected to live for approximately 5 years under ideal conditions. It is an evergreen perennial, so it will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.
Companion Plants for Helleborus 'Flower Girl' To create a stunning display in your shade garden, consider pairing Helleborus 'Flower Girl' with these companion plants:
- Athyrium 'Pictum' (Japanese Painted Fern): The delicate, silvery fronds of this fern provide a beautiful contrast to the bold blooms of 'Flower Girl'.
- Brunnera 'Queen of Hearts' (Siberian Bugloss): This plant offers heart-shaped leaves and sprays of small blue flowers, complementing the pink hues of 'Flower Girl'.
- Heucherella 'Eye Spy' (Foamy Bells): With its vibrant foliage and delicate white flowers, 'Eye Spy' adds texture and interest to the planting.
- Pulmonaria 'Twinkle Toes' (Lungwort): This plant features spotted leaves and clusters of pink and blue flowers, creating a harmonious blend with 'Flower Girl'.
Similar Helleborus Varieties If you are interested in exploring other Helleborus varieties similar to 'Flower Girl', consider these options:
| Variety | Flower Color | Characteristics |
| Helleborus 'Molly's White' | Pure white | Outward-facing double flowers |
| Helleborus x nigercors 'Honeyhill Joy' | Creamy-white with a touch of green | Large flowers |
| Helleborus x ballardiae 'HGC Merlin' | Deep purple, almost black | Double flowers |
| Helleborus 'Dark and Handsome' | Dark purple | Single flowers with prominent yellow stamens |
| Helleborus 'Wedding Crasher' | Deep purple to black with a white picotee edge | Single flowers |
| Helleborus 'Shotgun Wedding' | Creamy-white with heavy red speckling | Single flowers |
You can also explore other varieties within the Wedding Party series, such as 'Maid of Honor', 'True Love', 'Wedding Bells', and 'Whirlwind Romance'.
Helleborus 'Flower Girl' is a charming and versatile perennial that adds a touch of elegance to any shade garden. Its beautiful double blooms in shades of blush to light pink, attractive evergreen foliage, and ease of care make it a favorite among gardeners. With its extended bloom time of up to 6 weeks and the lasting beauty of its spent blooms, 'Flower Girl' provides a long season of interest in the garden. It is also a valuable plant for early pollinators, offering a source of nectar when other food sources are scarce. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or just starting out, 'Flower Girl' is a wonderful choice for adding early spring color and interest to your landscape. Its adaptability to various soil types and shade conditions makes it a versatile plant for different garden settings. Consider pairing it with companion plants like ferns, bugloss, and lungwort to create a truly captivating display in your shade garden.
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
