Helleborus Wedding Party 'Blushing Bridesmaid' is a striking Lenten rose cultivar featuring fully double blooms in shades of blush pink to rose with delicate veining and darker picotee edges. Part of the Wedding Party series bred for symmetry and color clarity, it combines refined floral form with strong upright stems and vigorous growth. Its long blooming window and dramatic floral display make it a standout in late winter shade gardens and cut flower arrangements.
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, well drained soil rich in organic matter
Watering Needs: Moderate; consistent moisture appreciated during active growth
Deer Resistance: Highly resistant to deer and rabbits due to toxic compounds in leaves and roots
Native Status
This plant is a cultivated hybrid derived from Helleborus orientalis and related species native to parts of Europe and western Asia. It is not native to North America but widely adapted for temperate gardens.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Bees
- Provides critical nectar to honeybees and early native bees such as Andrena and Osmia during late winter emergence.
Butterflies
- Visited by overwintered butterflies including Mourning Cloak and Eastern Comma seeking early nectar sources.
Moths
- Offers nectar for early season moths including Half Wing and Small Engrailed which are active in cooler months.
Birds
- Dense foliage provides winter ground shelter for wrens and sparrows, especially during snow cover.
Beneficial Insects
- Creates overwintering shelter for ground beetles and predatory wasps that help reduce garden pest populations.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Space 18 - 24 in apart to give ample room for mature clumps and floral display visibility.
Landscape Placement:
- Excellent in shaded borders, under deciduous trees, or near entryways where late winter flowers can be enjoyed up close. Also valuable for naturalizing in woodland settings.
Companion Plants
- Chionodoxa luciliae (Glory of the Snow) - Adds brilliant star shaped blue or pink flowers that bloom in sync with Helleborus.
- Galanthus elwesii (Giant Snowdrop) - Features large nodding white flowers that echo the blush tones of 'Blushing Bridesmaid'.
- Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance' - Evergreen sedge with white margined leaves that lighten shaded compositions and surround hellebore clumps gracefully.
- Narcissus 'Tête-à-Tête' - Early dwarf daffodils add cheerful yellow contrast while fitting into small shady garden pockets.
- Cyclamen coum - Offers vibrant magenta or pink blooms and decorative foliage to complement the hellebore’s refined form.