FrostKiss™ Anna's Red Hellebore

During the late winter/early spring, does a dose of vivid color cure you of the winter doldrums? If so, then FrostKiss™ Anna's Red Hellebore is your ideal medicine. This compact hybrid hellebore, otherwise known as Helleborus orientalis Lam., Helleborus x 'ABCRD02' PP #24,720, and Anna's Red Lenten Rose: Patent PPAF, is named after Anna Pavord, a famous gardening author from the United Kingdom. It produces showy, wine-red blooms with prominent beige stamens from the later winter months through early spring. Accompanied by variegated, evergreen foliage that transforms from emerald green with silvery etchings to ginger, this ornamental plant’s vibrance will brighten the gray clouds of winter. The cut-flower quality blooms are also a great addition to any vase inside the home.

FrostKiss™ Anna's Red Hellebore, grows upright, reaching a maximum height of 12 to 15 inches and a spread of 16 to 20 inches. Deer resistant, this compact ornamental will likely still be standing in its multicolored splendor long after the hungry pirates have raided your backyard. However, the birds, bees, and butterflies view Ann’s Red as a pollinator’s prize, adoring its ambrosia-like nectar. An original from Greece and Turkey, this evergreen is also drought resistant and low maintenance, making it a wonderful choice for any busy person new to gardening. 

FrostKiss™ Anna's Red Hellebore Care

While FrostKiss™ Anna's Red Hellebore can withstand an hour or two of direct sun, choose a spot that is preferably in partial shade. Plant it in a hole the same depth as the height of the plant’s root ball. The soil should be slightly damp, loamy, and slightly acidic to alkaline with a pH range of 7.0 to 8.0. Give this showy, herbaceous perennial about an inch of water per week until the plant reaches maturity. Then, water only if the top one inch of soil is dry, which will keep fungal diseases such as root rot in check.  

To encourage the production of larger and more brilliant flowers, deadhead spent blooms throughout the blooming season. After the blooming season concludes during the spring, prune this perennial, trimming any damaged/dead stems in order to improve air circulation and access to sunlight in the central part of the plant.

FrostKiss™ Anna's Red Hellebore Spacing

FrostKiss™ Anna's Red Hellebore looks great planted in garden beds or in borders. Either way, space these ornamentals approximately 15 to 18 inches apart to encourage growth and maximize color.

FrostKiss™ Anna's Red Hellebore Information