Gardeners and hellebores
Ok, drum roll here… I think I can say that. hellebores They are my favorite perennial plant. A well-kept secret for gardening lovers, hellebores should be better known to both serious and not-so-serious gardeners; This is a plant worth seeking out. What other plant resists deer and neglect, likes shade, even deep shade, is evergreen, grooms beautifully and has stunning flowers? Did I mention it blooms for 3 or 4 months a year? That was not a typo. hellebores They bloom for at least 3 months, sometimes longer, starting in mid-February for me in the mid-Atlantic region, and continuing until at least April or May. Increasingly, I’ve seen them for sale at Trader Joe’s and other unlikely places, so I think people are finally waking up to the value of this flower. Poisonous deer despise these beautiful plants.
So why isn’t this plant in more gardens? Several reasons… First, they are expensive. Retail prices can range from $15 to $30 per piece. Secondly, by the time most people visit garden centers in May, the plants have almost finished their flowering show and people move on to fresher flowering plants. Third, Hellebore Flower colors are usually subtle greens, pinks and whites, and many gardeners want something brighter and more striking. But hybridizers are working on it and more and more colorful flowers are released every year. Finally, many hellebores have downward-facing flowers, meaning they are difficult to see in the garden. Again, hybridizers raise the profile of the flowers and tilt them outward.
For bee and nature lovers, this plant is very important because it is an early source of nectar for pollinators. They don’t bloom much when in their late winter glory and I’m sure to see the flowers full of bees on a warm February day. Although it is not a native plant, I find this flower essential to keeping my bees going in late winter.
Good things come to those who wait
Another drawback in addition to its high price, and I warn my clients about this when I include them in the design of a garden; They take a while to establish themselves. To get a good-sized flowering clump, it will take about 5 years if starting with a quart-sized plant. So in this age of instant gratification, this can be a deal breaker for some people.
Very few perennials can tolerate the snow and winter wind that nature throws at them in January and February, but hellebores emerges at the end of February with a spectacle welcoming spring. Some of the evergreen foliage may burn at the edges and become tattered, but you can cut those leaves off quickly to allow new ones to emerge.
The most popular varieties are the oriental hybrid. hellebores (hellebore unknown hybrid ) that grow in USDA zones 6-9.
Lenten Rose
The common name for hellebores It is the Lenten Rose, because they bloom around the Lenten season. Hybridizers have latched on to hellebores and specialized in creating a rainbow of colors, including yellow, burgundy, speckled, black, pinks and picotees. And the names!…Honeyhill Joy, Ivory Prince, Amber Gem, Berry Swirl, Cotton Candy, Black Diamond, Golden Lotus, Onyx Odyssey, Rose Quartz, Peppermint Ice, are just the tip of the iceberg. They sound like paint colors on a paint stick.
The flowers that normally face downward have been created to lean outward instead of facing the ground so you can easily see the floral show. Hybridizers have also turned their attention to the foliage, breeding it for variety, burgundy stems, and silvery sheens. All these efforts must have paid off, as they are flooding the nurseries and the prices are high. I have seen hellebores for more than 50 dollars a piece. They are becoming as expensive as some hybridized peonies!
Culture
the culture of hellebores It’s so easy that if you plant them in a shady or partially shaded location, you’ll be done and created a planting that will last for many years. I have some in sunny spots here in Maryland, but in more southern states, like Florida, I plant them in full shade. In particular, Lenten Rose is a valuable player for dry shade, the enemy of many gardeners. I use them as ground cover under large trees where deer are prone to browsing. For more shade ground cover options, go to Made for the Shade.
Hellebores will lay seeds around the plant and when seedlings appear, you will dig them up and scatter them. In no time you will have large clumps that will last for years and years.
As I noted above, if you cut off the older outer leaves in late winter, new stems and leaves can emerge in the center. That’s all for maintenance!
My advice for purchasing these beauties is to buy them in bloom so you know what you are getting as the colors can vary greatly. Take a daycare shopping trip in late February and early March for the best option.
To make arrangements with these flowers, it is best to pick them after the flowers have been unfurling for at least several weeks. Be sure to choose a mature flower and cut the stems to allow for maximum water intake.
So, gardeners of the world, are you listening? Tell all your friends and neighbors about this plant. It shouldn’t be a secret anymore.
