Product Description
Helleborus 'Wedding Crasher' (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.
'Wedding Crasher' has 3", soft pink flowers are liberally covered with darker pink spots.
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.
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 to Full Shade
Low to Average Water Needs
Average to Fertile Soil Quality
Bloomtime: Early to 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
Imagine a flower that blooms in the depths of winter, defying the frost and snow to bring a touch of color to your garden. That is the magic of hellebores, and the Helleborus 'Wedding Crasher' is a particularly enchanting variety. Native to Europe and western Asia, hellebores are evergreen perennials that belong to the buttercup family. The 'Wedding Crasher' is part of the Wedding Party® series, developed by hybridizer Hans Hansen at Walters Gardens. This series is known for its double-flowered selections with notable vigor and showy floral displays in a wide array of colors. Let us delve into the captivating world of the Helleborus 'Wedding Crasher'.
Helleborus 'Wedding Crasher' is an evergreen perennial that grows in a bushy, upright clump, reaching a mature size of 18-24 inches in both height and width. Its most striking feature is its 3-inch, double, soft-pink flowers that are liberally covered with darker pink spots, resembling freckles. These charming blooms appear in early to mid-spring, making it an early bloomer that provides color when few other plants are in bloom. The flowers are long-lasting, providing beautiful color for up to 6 weeks and remaining attractive for weeks longer. 'Wedding Crasher' has sturdy stems, making it an excellent choice for cut flower arrangements. You can even float the flowers in clear bowls for an elegant centerpiece. One of the most remarkable characteristics of this variety is its unique, bright, clear pink color that, unlike other pink hellebores, stays bright as it matures. And unlike many other hellebores, 'Wedding Crasher' will often flower in its first year. Gardeners will also appreciate that it is deer and rabbit resistant.
Images The Helleborus 'Wedding Crasher' is a visually stunning plant. The soft pink double blooms, generously speckled with darker pink, create a captivating display against the backdrop of its glossy, dark green foliage. The flowers have a delicate, almost ethereal quality, while the plant as a whole has a robust and vigorous presence.
Care Requirements Helleborus 'Wedding Crasher' is a low-maintenance and generally pest and disease-free plant that is relatively easy to grow. Here are some basic care requirements:
- Light: It thrives in partial shade to full shade. A spot under deciduous trees is ideal, as it allows the plant to receive more sunlight in winter before the leaves emerge. Hellebores are shade plants that need to be protected from the hot afternoon sun.
- Soil: Well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter is essential. While it prefers neutral to alkaline soil conditions, it can adapt to slightly acidic soil. The ideal soil pH range is 5.5-5.8.
- Water: Water regularly, especially during the first year after planting and during prolonged dry periods. Once established, it is relatively drought-tolerant.
- Fertilizer: A light application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring is usually sufficient.
- Mulch: Apply a thick layer of mulch in the fall to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and encourage new seedlings.
- Pruning: Trim back old foliage in early spring before new growth appears to make way for new blooms. Remove faded flower stems to promote new growth and maintain a neat appearance.
- Toxicity: Hellebores are poisonous. Do not consume any part of the plant, and handle it with care, wearing gloves and other protective equipment.
Ideal Growing Conditions Helleborus 'Wedding Crasher' is hardy in USDA zones 4-9. It prefers moist, well-drained soil and benefits from some shelter from harsh winter winds. It is best to plant it in early spring or fall, allowing it to establish before the summer heat or winter cold. This plant has the potential to naturalize in moist, woodland areas, spreading through its extensive root system.
Other Helleborus Varieties There are many other beautiful Helleborus varieties available, each with its own unique characteristics. Here are a few examples:
- Helleborus argutifolius (Corsican Hellebore): This evergreen species has light green leaves with spiny margins and many light green flowers displayed on stalks. It is hardy to Zone 6 with good protection. Consider pairing it with Siberian bugloss for a lovely spring border.
- Helleborus foetidus (Stinking Hellebore): This evergreen species has dark green leaves with 5 to 13 narrow leaflets and light green to red-tinted flowers. It is known for its pungent smell when crushed. This species is very hardy, and a good garden plant once established.
- Helleborus niger (Christmas Rose): This winter-flowering species has dark green, leathery leaves and white flowers with a green center. It is hardy to Zone 3 with protection. Christmas Roses are a popular choice for winter interest and as cut flowers.
- Helleborus orientalis (Lenten Rose): This semi-evergreen species has coarsely serrated leaves and flowers in a variety of colors, from pure white to red-black, often with spotting. It is often hybridized with other species to create a wide range of colors and forms.
- Helleborus x hybridus: This group encompasses a wide variety of hybrids with diverse flower colors, including white, pink, rose, reddish-purple, deep purple, and even black. Many of these hybrids are sold in trademarked series of cultivars, such as the Mardi Gras series with its black, green, slate, white, and yellow flowers.
- Honeymoon™ Series: This series features single-flowered selections in a wide range of colors. 'California Dreaming', with its deep yellow petals, is a notable variety in this series.
Helleborus 'Wedding Crasher' is a truly captivating plant that deserves a place in every shade garden. Its unique, bright pink double flowers, adorned with darker pink freckles, create a stunning display that is both whimsical and elegant. This early bloomer brightens the landscape when few other plants are in bloom, and its long-lasting flowers provide weeks of enjoyment. 'Wedding Crasher' is a versatile plant that thrives in a variety of garden settings, from borders and containers to woodland gardens. It is also a low-maintenance and generally pest and disease-free plant, making it an excellent choice for gardeners of all skill levels. With its ability to naturalize and spread, 'Wedding Crasher' promises years of beauty and enjoyment in your garden.
Approximate Plug Measurements: 3.25 inches deep x 2.6 inches wide.
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!
