Product Description
Helleborus 'Romantic Getaway' - HONEYMOON® Series(20)ct Flat
Helleborus 'Romantic Getaway', a distinguished member of the HONEYMOON® Series, is a captivating Lenten Rose renowned for its early spring bloom and exquisite floral display. This particular cultivar, hybridized by Hans Hansen of Walters Gardens, exemplifies superior vigor, abundant blossoming, and rich coloration. It is celebrated for its low-maintenance nature and ability to thrive in various conditions, making it an ideal choice for naturalizing in woodland settings and adding vibrant life to the late winter garden.
'Romantic Getaway' presents striking 3-inch, single white flowers with a dramatic, intricate red pattern at their center. These showy blossoms emerge profusely, creating a stunning visual impact. The plant typically reaches a mature height and spread of 18-24 inches, forming a neat, mounding habit. Its foliage consists of deep green leaves, providing an attractive evergreen presence throughout the year, even when not in bloom.
- Flower Color: White with dramatic red patterned centers
- Foliage Color: Green shades
- Bloomtime: Early to Mid-Spring, often beginning in late winter and lasting for six weeks or more.
- Height: 18-24 inches
- Spread: 18-24 inches
- Growth Rate: Slow
- Seasonal Interest: Evergreen foliage, early spring blooms.
- Attracts: Bees
- Critter Resistant: Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant
- Other Features: Border Plant, Container Plant, Cut Flower, Drought Tolerant, Easy to Grow, Mass Planting, Salt Tolerant.
Hellebores are often referred to as the "harbingers of spring" due to their remarkable ability to bloom when most other plants are still dormant. Their common name, Lenten Rose, derives from their tendency to flower during the Christian season of Lent. 'Romantic Getaway' is particularly valued for its robust nature and adaptability. It boasts an extensive root system that allows it to naturalize readily in suitable environments, spreading to form impressive colonies if given the space.
While specific native habitats for cultivated varieties like 'Romantic Getaway' are not applicable, Hellebores, in general, are native to mountainous regions of Europe and Asia, where they often thrive in woodland and shady areas. They are accustomed to cool, moist conditions and the dappled sunlight filtering through deciduous trees.
Landscaping Design Tips
'Romantic Getaway' is a versatile plant that excels in a variety of garden styles, including Patio Container, Eclectic, and Woodland Shade.
- Mass Planting: This cultivar is exceptionally well-suited for mass planting, creating breathtaking drifts of color in late winter and early spring. Its ability to naturalize and spread makes it perfect for filling in under deciduous trees or along woodland edges. Plant in groups of odd numbers (3, 5, or more) for a natural, flowing effect. When mass planting, ensure adequate spacing (18-24 inches apart) to allow for mature growth and natural spread.
- Woodland Gardens: Hellebores are quintessential woodland plants. 'Romantic Getaway' will thrive in the dappled shade of deciduous trees, receiving full sun in winter and spring before the canopy fills in.
- Containers: Its moderate size makes it an excellent choice for containers, especially on patios or near entryways where its early blooms can be appreciated up close. Ensure containers have good drainage.
- Borders: Use 'Romantic Getaway' as an attractive border plant, providing early season interest and evergreen foliage.
- Cut Flowers: The durable flowers make beautiful additions to late winter and early spring floral arrangements.
Hardiness
Helleborus 'Romantic Getaway' is remarkably hardy, thriving in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9. This wide range indicates its resilience to varying winter temperatures.
Planting and Cultivation
Hellebores are remarkably low-maintenance and generally pest and disease-free, making them a joy to grow.
- Sunlight: 'Romantic Getaway' prefers Part Shade (4-6 hours of direct sun) to Full Shade (less than 4 hours of direct sun). It is crucial to protect them from hot afternoon sun, especially in warmer climates. They thrive in locations under deciduous trees, where they receive ample winter and early spring sun before the leaves emerge.
- Water Requirements: They have Low to Average Water Needs. While they prefer consistent moisture, they can tolerate short periods of drought once established.
- Soil Quality: Though they prefer rich, moist, organic soil, Hellebores are adaptable and will also grow in sandy or clay soil. Optimal growth is achieved in Average to Fertile Soil Quality.
- Soil Chemistry: The soil pH can range from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, with a preference for Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0) to Alkaline Soil (pH > 7.0).
- Planting: Plant in late fall or early spring. Ensure the crown of the plant is at soil level.
- Fertilization: A light application of balanced granular fertilizer in early spring can promote vigorous growth and flowering.
- Pruning: The primary maintenance task is to trim back last year's foliage in late winter or early spring, just as new growth begins to emerge. This not only cleans up the plant but also allows the new flowers to be seen more clearly.
- Naturalizing and Propagation: To encourage an increase in the number of Hellebores in your garden, mulch heavily in the fall. This provides a suitable environment for new seedlings to germinate in the spring. These young seedlings can then be carefully transplanted to other desired locations in the garden.
WARNING: It is important to note that all parts of Hellebores are poisonous if ingested. Exercise caution, especially around children and pets, and do not consume any part of the plant.
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!
