Hellebores (Helleborus) for sale and cultivation tips

The Lenten Rose (Helleborus x hybridus)

Of all the flowers and plants that we grow there is nothing quite like Helleborus, especially the orientalis hybrids as they are now known. Their ability to flower so well in the darkest months of the winter fills a gap in the gardening calendar and places them on a par with the Snowdrops that are so popular nowadays.

Helleborus are not brash or exotic yet they have a subtlety that is certainly unrivalled. Each and every year, they thrust up their flowers. These look so beautiful in the low light levels of the darkest months. They are not affected by frost, rain or wind. They just sit it out until they get a bit of sunlight and the flowers unfurl to reveal an inner beauty. The outside of the petals are often very different from the inner. Most of the flowers are pendulous to protect the inside, making them mysterious as well as beautiful. There is nothing quite like lifting up the blooms to reveal the often exquisite markings on the inside on a cold day.

Of course Helleborus can survive in almost all sites. They do  hate  water logged soils though. Growing in sun or shade they are best known as woodland plants. Actually preferring to grow  in good light levels. Very few diseases are a problem.   The only down side to them are their tatty leaves as winter approaches. These are best removed leaving a 5 cm (2”) stalk just after Christmas. Then  new shoots will then emerge  ready to start the cycle over again.

In winter add a mulch of well rotted farmyard manure or old mushroom compost. This is best applied  when the leaves are removed and helps to feed them in their hour of need. Don’t forget that they are actively growing in the opposite way to normal Summer flowering plants and needing something Jan, Feb or March.

Nowadays the Hellebore colour range is absolutely superb. They are available in colours ranging from pure white to darkest black, many spotted, splashed or veined. Even doubles and anemone centres are now freely available. More details here

Please note that the pictures are a guide only, every effort is made to ensure that the colours are correct, however, as they are seed grown often the colours and markings vary from the picture. All seed, seedlings and young plants are hand pollinated but even with this, especially with the more experimental lines, variation will occur. 

ENJOY!!!!

Picotee double

Dark green spotted double

Dark pink clematis flowered

Peachy apricot double

Green double

Cream spotted double