Helleborus Honeymoon 'Paris in Pink' is a vigorous hybrid Lenten rose featuring upward facing soft pink blossoms with a delicate ruffled edge. Blooming in late winter through early spring it adds rare seasonal color when little else is in flower. Its leathery evergreen foliage persists through the year creating a handsome low mound that offers visual interest even outside of bloom. This deer resistant perennial is long lived, slow to spread, and thrives for decades in shaded gardens with minimal upkeep.
Height & Spread: 18 - 24 in x 18 - 24 in
Bloom Time: Late winter to early spring
Light Requirements: Part shade to full shade
Soil Preference: Moist, rich, well drained soil
Watering Needs: Moderate; appreciates regular moisture during dry spells
Deer Resistance: Deer and rabbit resistant
Native Status
This hybrid cultivar was developed from Helleborus orientalis and related species, which are native to parts of Europe and Asia. It is not native to North America but is widely cultivated in temperate regions for its ornamental value and early bloom.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Bees
- Visited by early emerging native bees and honeybees seeking nectar and pollen during the cool early spring season.
Butterflies
- Provides a rare early nectar source for overwintering adult butterflies such as Mourning Cloak and Eastern Comma.
Moths
- Occasionally attracts nocturnal moths emerging from winter dormancy, especially in mild climates with early thaws.
Birds
- The evergreen foliage offers low shelter and ground cover for small birds such as sparrows, wrens, and juncos during the colder months.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Space 18 - 24 in apart to allow for full clump development and airflow between plants.
Landscape Placement:
- Excellent in shaded foundation beds, woodland gardens, and under deciduous shrubs where its winter foliage and bloom time fill seasonal gaps. Pairs well with early bulbs and other shade perennials.
Companion Plants
- Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum' (Variegated Solomons Seal) - Adds graceful arching stems and white bell shaped flowers that bloom as hellebores fade.
- Heuchera villosa (Coral Bells) - Provides richly colored foliage and late season flower spikes that extend the visual season of the planting.
- Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' - Features large silver veined leaves and small blue spring flowers that echo hellebore’s soft pastel tones.
- Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance' - Offers fine textured, evergreen foliage with white margins that contrast nicely with hellebore leaves.
- Epimedium x rubrum - Produces airy red tinged flowers and heart shaped foliage that emerges around the same time as hellebore blooms.