Hellebores brighten up winter

Hellebores are known as the Lenten or winter rose. PICTURES / SUPPLIED

We are right into the middle of winter now and last week certainly felt like it! A smattering of sunny days and seeing some jonquils flowering, many magnolia buds are fattening with the first few blooms on some of the stellata varieties means we know that the season is progressing. Another few weeks of the days lengthening and it will feel that spring is fast approaching.

Hellebores are known as the Lenten or winter rose. PICTURES / SUPPLIED

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. Some early blooming varieties start flowering from late May and run through into late July, other varieties start during July and will run into late August or even September. In the northern hemisphere this coincides with the Christian festival of lent, hence the name Lenten Rose.

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.

Hellebores are known as the Lenten or winter rose. PICTURES / SUPPLIED

Traditionally hellebores were mostly white and pink with the shades in between. No longer is the colour range restricted! The colours now range from the traditional white through the shades of pink to black flowers. Also there are green flowered hybrids, yellows, apricots and all the combinations of above in "picotee" or "spotted" form. There are also double flowered hybrids also in an exceptional colour range.

Hellebores are known as the Lenten or winter rose. PICTURES / SUPPLIED

Some newer varieties to look out for include; White Tutu, Anna's Red, Penny's Pink, Molly's White, Tutu, Jacob, Madame Lemmonier, Conny, Elly.

Hellebores are known as the Lenten or winter rose. PICTURES / SUPPLIED

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.

Hellebores are known as the Lenten or winter rose. PICTURES / SUPPLIED

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.

Hellebores are known as the Lenten or winter rose. PICTURES / SUPPLIED

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, you can leave on any good looking healthy ones. 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. Hellebores 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 is beneficial, but don't be too heavy handed. Dolomite Lime is also beneficial to add calcium.
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!

Want to learn more? Come along to a Hellebore Talk and New Variety Review on Saturday, July 14 at 2pm at Springvale Garden Centre.
Keep warm and have a great week!
Gareth Carter is General Manager of Springvale Garden Centre