ATLANTA—Lenten Roses are blooming during their namesake time of year. A colleague gave me tiny seedlings of these several years ago and now they have spread, soldiering on through several years of historic drought.
They bear glossy black seeds about the size of a sesame seed. Collect them and sprinkle them in your toughest dry shade area. Then wait, and wait, and wait. They grow slowly.
They make good cut flowers, but I am so pleased by the whole seed process I do not take many of them for that, just one or two for a bud vase to brighten my loved one’s quarters.
Some people cut the mature leaves off before new growth comes in because they become ragged and coarse. I don’t; the contrast between the rough leaves and delicate flowers is kind of pleasing in a Japanese way.
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