Of course we all know winter can be a dull time of year but Hellebores can certainly brighten up the border in both your garden, or if you’re thinking about having a flower border to increase wildlife, they can add real colour the allotment too.
Hellebores are fast becoming one of the most collected plants in the UK and with the right growing conditions, and a little love and attention; you could be having beautiful clumps in bloom throughout spring.
Have I the right growing conditions?
Do not be scared off by the fact that Hellebores can be difficult to grow. This is true of a few varieties, and sadly some do fail to reappear. Leaving flower heads on to self-seed from July to August can create an array of plants.
Some gardeners can be put off however as it does take up to three years before flowers appear from sowing seed but Hellebores are easily purchasable and available from online stockists or your local garden centre most of the year. In particular Helleborus orientalis grows well and H. foetidus is a good alternative if you have a very shady site. When planting Hellebores your soil will need to be well worked and applying a spent mushroom compost or humus rich compost is the key to success, especially if you have hard clay like soil which is so common in our region. Planting your Hellebores on a slope and away from full sun means the plant will not dry out or be too exposed but with its downward facing cupped flower heads they can be fully admired in this situ.
Planting around trees or in a shady woodland area can be eye pleasing too because it provides colour at ground level. Some combinations that work well are planting Hellebores under Prunus species as well as Malus. For example Malus ‘Everste’ with H.x hybridus, Viola cornuta,Cyclamen hederifolium and common Ivy can give an array of pink and purple colour. Helleborus ‘Harvington hybrids’ along with Aconitum Carmichael, Polystichum setiferum and Epimedium pubigerum are all perfect companions for a shady woodland site.
I have never grown Hellebores before, where should I start?
Helleborus odorus is an easy variety to start growing and has a bright lime green and yellow flower head as well as it stems. For a more extraordinary colour H. hybridus ‘Bradfield Picotee’ grows 45cm tall and has a light veined pink tint to its delicate petals. Another popular variety is ‘Ashwood Garden Hybrids’, especially the yellow flowering hybrid with its dark brown/red spots.
Can I leave Hellebores in pots?
Plants can be stored out in containers but do prefer to be transplanted into the ground especially once blooms fade. Always check your plant for possible signs of pests and diseases when transplanting too.
The Key to Happy Hellebores
- · Require Partial Shade
- · Prefer a well-drained soil
- · Flower from winter to Spring
- · Heights range from 30cm -1.2m
- · Possible pest damage to look out for is aphids and slugs
- · Mulch around the plants in July-August and again in December
- · Add a general fertiliser in Spring for best blooms.
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