Hellebores add colour to winter

A brilliant double flowered hellebore from Clifton Homestead.

We are right into the middle of winter now and the days are noticeably longer so we know spring is fast approaching. When the weather is good, it is time to get into the garden and get on top of weeds before the spring growth starts and they get out of control.
At this time of year it can be hard to find colour in the garden. Hellebores, known commonly as the 'lenten or winter rose', is a plant that makes its flowering debut during the cold winter months. These spectacular beauties flower for six weeks from late winter into spring. In the northern hemisphere this coincides with the Christian festival of Lent, hence the common name.
Hellebores are a shade loving plant, preferring good drainage. They are ideal for growing under trees and along the shady side of a house or fence. They are a plant that has become popular in the last five years particularly with breeding programmes developing some exciting new hybrids. Traditionally hellebores were mostly white and pink with the shades in between. The colours now range from the traditional white through the shades of pink to dark black flowers. There are also green flowered hybrids, yellows, apricots and all the combinations of above in 'picotee' or 'spotted' form.
Some of the most recent breeding has brought forth double flowered hybrids also in an exceptional colour range.
Most of the hellebore species enjoy humus-rich, free draining soil. They occur naturally in the deciduous forest and meadows of Eastern Europe. This situation provides lovely organic material in the form of leaf mould and built in drainage provided by the tree roots. You can mimic this situation in your own patch with planting hellebores under trees and the addition of Yates Peat Moss or Tui Organic Compost.
Hellebores also enjoy soil of higher pH, lime rather than acidic soils, although as long as there is relatively neutral pH you can grow hellebores with rhododendrons.
In areas that have heavy clays, one needs to be a lot more careful to provide the necessary drainage. Planting in raised beds is one helpful solution or planting under trees is another.
The method of planting right into the base of deciduous trees works on the principle of the tree taking up excessive moisture immediately under it, therefore providing the suitable drainage. You need to be a little careful with the likes of conifers which may block out moisture completely, as the hellebores do need some moisture.
Hellebores enjoy being mulched, this has many benefits - it keeps the plant moist and cool over the summer, is a great source of organic material and is also really good at keeping the weeds down. The best time to apply mulch is generally in the spring at the time when the old leaves are cut off just as the flower buds are appearing.
Cutting the leaves off the H x orientalis hybrids is beneficial, but not absolutely necessary. The flowers will come through the old leaves perfectly well, but the plants look tidier with the old and dying leaves removed. The clearing of the old leaves does help display the flowers better and also provides a good airflow around the plant's corm to reduce the risk of fungal disease. Don't cut the leaves off the other species, just H x orientalis.
Diseases in hellebores are not a major as the plants are very resilient. Hellebore leaves are poisonous to animals, although they will not eat them unless under extreme pressure. Some have them growing in paddocks in places and the sheep and cattle will graze right around them without touching the leaves - but the aphid however- he doesn't care if they are poisonous or not - he just loves those lush green leaves in summer and can make quite a mess. The use of Yates Confidor or Yates Mavrik proves effective against these pests.
Hellebores do not need much in the way of fertiliser. If you mulch once a year you can rely on that to provide nutrients. A top-dress with Novatec fertiliser (a much improved version of nitrophoska blue at the same price) is beneficial, but don't be too heavy handed. Dolomite lime is also beneficial.
The hellebores will tolerate a dry site far better than a wet one. It doesn't really matter how much rain, hail and snow you get as long as the plant doesn't sit in a wet boggy soil for too long. The free drainage is paramount. You can bring a hellebore back from death's door from being too dry, but it won't come back from being too wet! Keep warm and have a great week!
Gareth Carter is general manager of Springvale Garden Centre