Hellebores are classic plants for winter interest, with elegant, nodding blooms in shades of green, white, pink, ruby and blackish–purple, set among clumps of leathery, evergreen leaves. These perennials have a long flowering period, and look good from January to May. Although often known as Christmas or Lenten roses, hellebores aren’t related to roses. Instead they belong to the buttercup family.
Hellebores are easy to grow and are undemanding. Typically woodland edge plants, they thrive in rich, moisture-retentive soil but struggle in boggy and wet conditions. Most will tolerate full sun to almost full shade.
There are fewer pollinators around when hellebores are in flower, but the blooms are rich in nectar and have lots of pollen, making them an instant hit for hungry bumblebees. Most hellebores have downward-facing flowers which protect the pollen from winter rains and also offer shelter to any insect while they feed.
Most hellebores are compact, 30–45cm (12–18in) tall, but bolder types, such as Helleborus argutifolius and H. foetidus, can grow to 90cm (3ft).
Various species of this genus originated in Europe and Asia. The greatest concentration of species occuring in the Balkans. One atypical species (H. thibetanus) comes from western China; another atypical species (H. vesicarius) inhabits a small area on the border between Turkey and Syria.
The popular Oriental hybrids (Helleborus × hybridus) are hardy, but H. thibetanus, H. lividus and H. niger are easily damaged by winter cold and wet and may be best grown in containers which can be kept in a sheltered spot, greenhouse or cold-frame. Hellebores can be planted at any time of year, as long as the soil isn't frozen, but once established, they hate being transplanted, so choose your spot carefully.
So what should you be doing with your Hellebores in November? If they are hardy, you can remove the leaves to make sure the nodding flowers are on full display and also help to control hellebore leaf spot disease. Be careful not to damage any flowering shoots. If you have tender varieties in containers, and you haven’t moved them yet, now might be a good time to do so.
Once the flowers have faded in late spring, remove the old flower stems and ageing leaves to encourage new growth from the base. Leave some seed pods if you want plants to self-seed, but be aware that the resulting offspring can grow to smother the original plant. Alternatively, you can collect ripe seed and sow them into modules to grow new plants for free and plant them where you want them.
Which hellebores would be a good choice for your garden? Here are some suggestions from Gardener’s World:
Green hellebore, Helleborus viridis - Helleborus viridis is a dainty hellebore with green, chalice-like flowers surrounded by dark foliage. Grow in an open site in well-drained, alkaline soil. Flowers: Jan-Apr Height x spread: 30cm x 30cm
Christmas rose, Helleborus niger - Though a well-loved garden plant, even skilled gardeners have trouble persuading it to settle. It does best in light soils. Flowers: Jan-Feb H x S: 30cm x 45cm
Helleborus ‘Penny’s Pink’ - This wonderful hybrid hellebore uses Helleborus x ericsmithii as one of the parents. Bold plants with striking marbled foliage. Flowers: Feb-Apr H x S: 30cm x 30cm
Corsican hellebore, Helleborus argutifolius - Also known as the Corsican hellebore, this big, bold plant bears several flower stems, each bearing an imposing cluster of large apple-green flowers. Flowers: Jan-April H x S: 50cm x 90cm
Stinking hellebore, Helleborus foetidus - Wester Flisk Group is a selection from our native ‘stinking hellebore’. It has reddish stems, glaucous foliage and pale globose flowers, sometimes with a red rim. Flowers: Feb-May H x S: 50cm x 60cm
Helleborus Ashwood Garden hybrids - Robust yet elegant, Ashwood garden hybrids come in a host of colours and forms, with pure flower colours retained over a long period. Flowers: Jan-Apr H x S: 30cm x 30cm
Lenten rose, Helleborus x hybridus - Helleborus x hybridus bears clusters of saucer-shaped flowers coloured white, pink, green, mauve or smoky purple. Blooms may be plain or patterned. Plants will self-seed readily. Flowers: Mar-May H x S: 45cm x 30cm
Helleborus x ericsmithii - Helleborus x ericsmithii is an unusual three-way hybrid hellebore. The evergreen foliage is a rich, deep green, and the flowers are a pale greenish-pink, darkening as they mature. Flowers: Mar-Apr H x S: 45cm x 40cm
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