Helleborus is a genus with few species (about 15), but the number of named hybrids and selected seedlings has increased in recent years as collecting hellebores has become fashionable. Hellebores belong to the same plant family (Ranunculaceae) as clematis, anemone and delphinium. They hybridise freely and come in a huge range of flower colours and forms. In the garden they associate well with Erythronium (Dog’s tooth violet), Galanthus (snowdrop) and Pulmonaria (lungwort). Hellebores are especially effective when grown alongside dwarf Narcissus ‘February Gold’.
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Their natural habitat is scrub, woodland and grassy and rocky sites, usually on chalk or limestone soils of central, eastern and southern Europe, though they are to be found in western Asia.
Hellebores tolerate a range of moist, fertile humus-rich soils and will thrive in sun or shade. Give them semi- shade where possible. Helleborus foetidus (stinking hellebore) will tolerate dry soil. Being deep rooted they resent disturbance so it’s best not to try moving them around the garden.
Helleborus niger ‘Potter’s Wheel’ , the Christmas rose is a reliable selection of the most symbolic species with its bowl-shaped, green-eyed ,white flowers.
Helleborus x sternii ‘Boughton Beauty’ carries green tinted pink flowers above hummocks of veined and marbled, greyish leaves.
Helleborus atrorubens has deeply divided long-stalked purple-tinted leaves and star shaped deep purple to green flowers in late winter.
Helleborus x ericsmithii ‘Picoette’ bears dark red buds which open white then go deep red with age.
Helleborus foetidus ‘Pewter Form’ is noted for its silver/pewter foliage which has dark red stains at the leaf bases and on the stem. It does well in shade and dry soil.
Helleborus x hybridus is the most popular group and its members are often referred to as the orientalis hybrids. Their saucer-shaped pendant flowers are on show from late January to early April and come in a range of colours from white to green, greenish yellow, pink, purple and almost black.
Helleborus x hybridus ‘Ballard Red’ has clear mid-red bowl-shaped flowers.
Helleborus x hybridus ‘Blue-black‘ boasts dark velvety satin-like flowers.
They will grow in all but poorly drained or dry soils. Plant in autumn into soil enriched with organic matter like compost or well rotted farmyard manure. Helleborus x hybridus cultivars are susceptible to hellebore black death which manifests itself as black streaking and mottling along or between the leaf veins. Dig up and destroy infected plants immediately.
Before starting a Hellebore collection why not look at this genus of winter flowering perennials in more detail by visiting the National Collection at Broadview gardens.
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