'double Fantasy' Christmas Rose

A Shade Loving, Early Blooming Perennialbroadly and touches them, turning them pale pink.
Through the years a variety of plants have comeDouble Fantasy Christmas Rose Gift Offer
to be called "Christmas Rose"; they are allThis year we have the brand new double
steeped in a legend that dates back centuries.Christmas Rose - 'Double Fantasy' that will make
Most frequently, the plant Americans associatea lovely and thoughtful gift. 'Double Fantasy'
with the Christmas Rose legend is the hellebore.features pure white, ruffled blooms with several
In late winter the first plants to bloom in myrows of petals that look even more like true
garden are the Christmas hellebores - often firstroses. They "pop" against the evergreen dark
appearing when there is still snow on the ground.green foliage. 'Double Fantasy' can be kept in the
Their blooms and evergreen foliage brighten thehouse and planted in the garden in the spring. It
winter garden and offer a hint of the spring towill look lovely under deciduous trees, next to
come. Native to much of Europe, hellebores wereshady patios or courtyard gardens. Be sure to
grown in Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia as early asplant your Christmas Rose up close, so you can
1793 and today it seems that gardeners can't getenjoy its beautiful blooms in mid-winter. 'Double
enough of them. Over the past decade, plantFantasy' provides a pleasant textural diversion in a
breeders have created many new hybrids of thebed of hostas, or in a mixed border. And, deer do
latter blooming Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis).not eat hellebores.
Now they have started to work their magic uponPlanting and Care
the Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger).'Double Fantasy' is permanent and easy to grow.
The Christmas Rose LegendIt matures into a mound of evergreen leaves
When the Magi laid their rich offerings of myrrh,ultimately almost three feet wide and 18-24
frankincense, and gold, by the bed of the sleepinginches high and lasts for decades. In most North
Christ Child, legend says that a shepherd maidenAmerican climates, where the soil freezes, a
stood outside the door quietly weeping.winter thaw will bring the much appreciated floral
She, too, had sought the Christ Child and desireddisplay.
to bring him gifts. But she had nothing to offer,Keep 'Double Fantasy' in a cool place in the house
for she was very poor indeed. She had searchedthroughout the winter.
the countryside over for one little flower to bringFor best results plant in early spring after the
Him, but she could find neither bloom nor leaf, fordanger of frost.
the winter had been cold.Prefers shade.
And as she stood there weeping, an angel passingRated as very deer-resistant!
saw her sorrow, and stooping, the angel brushedPlant 30-36 inches apart in a moist, compost-rich,
aside the snow at her feet. And there sprang upwell-drained soil.
on the spot a cluster of beautiful winterCut back the old foliage in spring.
roses,-waxen with light pink petals.Water regularly until established.
"Nor myrrh, nor frankincense, nor gold," said theHardy in zones 4-9.
angel, "is offering more meet for the Christ ChildFertilize with Cottonseed Meal and Kelp Meal in
than these pure Christmas Roses." These theearly spring.
shepherd maiden carries to Jesus, who smiles