Hellebore

Helleborus

Hellebore / Lenten rose

• Position: partial shade or full sun
• Soil: humus-rich, well-drained soil
• Flowering period: January to April
• Height: 40-60 cm
• Foliage: evergreen
• Hardiness: fully hardy

Helleborus, commonly known as Lenten rose, Christmas rose, is a great plant for adding colour to the winter garden when little else is growing. This perennial flowers from late January until April.

The lovely flowers are also a good source of pollen for insects.

Varieties

Helleborus x hybridus

Helleborus x hybridus is one of the best known of all hellebore varieties and for good reason. It has the most fantastic cup-shaped flowers varying from white, pink, deep red, apricot, yellow, blackish-purple, often spotted or veined. The dark green leaves are also attractive.

Helleborus x hybridus is easy to grow and will do best in humus-rich, well-drained soil in partial shade but tolerate sun.

Helleborus x hybridus                              Helleborus x hybridus

Helleborus niger

Helleborus niger bears gorgeous white flowers above dark green, leathery foliage. The flowers fade to yellow-olive-green as they age. This variety performs best in humus-rich, well-drained soil and likes a sheltered position in partial shade.

Pruning

pruning leaves

When should you cut back the leaves of Helleborus x hybridus / Helleborus niger ( Hellebore or Lenten rose ). Cut off ugly or damaged leaves right back at the base of the plant at the end of January or in early February.

New fresh leaves will appear again in early spring.

pruning faded flower stems

Should Helleborus x hybridus/ Helleborus niger be cut back after flowering. Cut back the faded flower stems after flowering. If you want to increase the number of plants, don’t cut off the faded flowers, after flowering. Seed heads will develop. When these mature, seeds will scatter on the surrounding soil.

Then new hellebore seedlings emerge near the mother plant. Leave the young seedlings in the ground, so they can develop into mature plants. Alternatively, dig the seedlings up when they are large enough to handle and pot them up individually.

Care

Planting tips. Helleborus likes humus-rich soil, well-drained soil. Add plenty of garden compost or leaf mould to the soil before planting. Mulch the plant once a year. Apply a layer of 5cm of organic matter around the base of the plant each autumn.

Dividing hellebore

Helleborus x hybridus can be divided to reduce the size of the plant. Dig up the entire clump and divide the plant with a sharp knife into three pieces. Replant the divided parts and water thoroughly.

Do this job in early autumn or after flowering in spring.

Hellebore problems

Many hellebores can be affected by hellebore leaf spot, especially Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose). What can you do about it.

Plant combination

Hellebores will look good with a range of partners such as Galanthus nivalis, Bergenia, Epimedium, Hamamelis, Cornus alba 

Galanthus nivalis