Hellebores ( pronounced Hela - eh - bor’us ) are also eff as Lenten Rose because their nodding , rose - like efflorescence seem in former wintertime or former springtime around the Christian holiday of Lent ( the time of year of Easter ) . As one of the earliest flower to blossom in your garden , it ’s a welcome reminder that winter is on its agency out .
Despite its nickname , hellebores are not a appendage ofthe rose phratry . Theseherbaceous perennialsgrow low to the undercoat in ball , usually no more than one – to one - and - a - one-half feet high and have typical leatherlike , sullen - green leaves . They need lilliputian charge , are n’t too fussy , and the foliation is evergreen plant in all but the inhuman regions . You ’ll savor them in your garden for many years with fiddling endeavor . cervid and Voles do n’t like them either , sothis is one flower they wo n’t deplete .
Hellebore flowers
Hellebore flowers are cup - regulate and rose - like ( hence the nickname ) and appear in a vast array of colour . The flowers are 2 - 4″ in diam , may appear in unmarried or double course , and in clump that either face upwards or nod downwards . Old - fashioned varieties blossom in shades of white and green . new hybrids admit shades of pink , purple , yellow , red , gray , and black , and there are even some patched and striped varieties .
When the flowers bloom is largely dependent onsnow coverand temperature . They typically look from very early winter through other leaping , for a period of 8 - 10 week , when few other flowers are in bloom . In mygarden in Pennsylvania , they bloom from March through May . bee and other pollinators love themas they ’re robust in nectar and few blossom are in bloom as early as Hellebores .
hellebore are multiply for a specific flower type , and most are hybrid variety . If you wish to maintain consistency in the flowers , remove the seminal fluid capsules each yr or plant different varieties at opposite death of your garden . They seed prolifically , and the self - sown plant may come out in unexpected combination of bloom type or colors ( the flowers of the offspring of hybrids are not straight to the parent ) . To prevent self - sowing , take away the spent flowers before the germ pod exposed . ego - sown plant will flower after 3 season .
Hellebore planting tips
Like most plants , where you site your Hellebores impacts whether they flourish or not and how many flowers they produce . Hellebores are native to woodland edges , so give them lightshade in your garden , but some verbatim sun . They ’ll fight in boggy , cockeyed conditions . dawn sunlight will encourage the plant to grow more blossom than those in deeper shade . The locating should also be shelter from drying , cold winter wind , as foliage exposed to stale , windy atmospheric condition becomes scorched and brown . Plant hellebore on elevate areas such as a border , hillside , or raise garden bed to bask their down - confront blossom .
Can you grow Hellebores in containers?
We evoke planting hellebores in containers for one season only , as Hellebores like to spread . fill in the container in summer , as high dirt temps may damage the industrial plant . Transplant them to your garden in fall .
Caring for Hellebores
Good companion plants for hellebores
Hellebores calculate best against early flowering plants like :
Hellebore pests and diseases
We garden in Pennsylvania , United States , zone 6B. Much of the info we portion out is based on gardening in our temperate area . But many of the flush , vegetable , and yield we compose about can be grown in soil other than ours ( clay ) and significantly different weather term and superlative . You might need to prefer specific varieties for your region , alter your garden , total soil amendments , or adjust the soil pH to match our results . Please check your local university extension site for specific for your area .
