Helleborus Wedding Party 'Maid of Honor' is a richly colored double hellebore featuring deep rose to wine purple petals with intricate veining and a symmetrical full flower form. Bred for consistent doubling and floral uniformity and blooms prolifically in late winter to early spring - often while snow is still on the ground. Its evergreen foliage and strong upright stems make it an anchor plant for shaded borders and woodland gardens through all seasons.
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; keep evenly moist during active growth
Deer Resistance: Deer and rabbit resistant due to toxic alkaloids in foliage
Native Status
This cultivar was developed from hybrids of Helleborus orientalis and related European species. It is not native to North America but performs reliably in temperate shade gardens.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Bees
- Offers early nectar and pollen to honeybees and native bees like Andrena and Bombus species during periods of low floral competition.
Butterflies
- Provides a rare winter nectar source for overwintered Mourning Cloaks and Eastern Commas on mild days.
Moths
- Visited by early season moths including Small Engrailed and Hebrew Character during twilight feeding periods.
Birds
- Low foliage clusters shelter sparrows and wrens while protecting beneficial ground insects in early spring.
Beneficial Insects
- Attracts parasitic wasps and predatory beetles which overwinter in the litter beneath mature hellebore clumps.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Allow 18 - 24 in spacing for full clump development and maximum floral presentation.
Landscape Placement:
- Effective in shaded entryways, woodland borders, and as an underplanting for deciduous trees where winter flowers can be appreciated up close.
Companion Plants
- Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' - Sparkling silver foliage and bright blue flowers complement the deep shades of 'Maid of Honor'.
- Galanthus elwesii (Giant Snowdrop) - Early white blooms accentuate the richness of the hellebore’s deep wine tones.
- Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance' - White edged sedge brightens shaded beds while echoing the hellebore’s tidy structure.
- Narcissus 'Tête-à-Tête' - Golden mini daffodils provide a color contrast and bloom simultaneously with hellebores.
- Cyclamen coum - Bold pinks and patterned leaves create a lively visual contrast to the darker hellebore flowers.