The colours of their sepals are multifarious, from the softest woodpigeon grey to pale apricot or damson, and from leaf green to the deepest black or pure white. Plant hellebores in neutral or alkaline soil, in dappled shade. Hellebores have a wide range of flower colours in all shades of crimson, red, subtle pinks, various shades of yellow and white, many with attractive speckles inside the flowers. Hellebores are a Green Wheelbarrow plant as they are generally easy to grow with little maintenance. Plant soon after purchase from autumn to spring in moist, but free-draining soil Most are hardy and happy in light shade Remove damaged or disease leaves in autumn/winter Mulch in spring to reduce drying out of the soil Hellebores are more or less trouble free except they can suffer from the common fungal problem of leaf spot, which as the name suggests means the leaves get marked with black or brown marks. They are also happy in sun where soil is moist. See an excellent example of this planting strategy: A Winter Jewel Box. Hellebores require little or no maintenance, but they do better if the old foliage is removed in late winter during January. Here, Monty Don demonstrates how to identify hellebore leaf spot and explains how to stop it spreading between plants: Helleborus viridis is a dainty hellebore with green, chalice-like flowers surrounded by dark foliage. Fast forward three months later and they are in full bloom and looking good. If the infection is severe, cut off all the leaves, the plant will survive. Hellebores prefer a moist, humus rich, fertile soil that does not dry out in summer or sit waterlogged in winter. The best advice for anyone who is intending to grow Hellebores from seed is to get them into the ground as soon as possible after they are ripe, which is usually some time between late spring and early summer. Having failed to do so recently, I can vouch for the discomfort it is akin to being badly stung by stinging nettles! As a woodland plant an ideal mulch is leaf mould, (image below right)  although any well-rotted organic matter will be suitable. /* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. If hellebores are grown in containers, allow the soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Plant into well-drained soil conditioned with well-rotted garden compost … Hellebores. erupt into bloom when most other plants lie dormant, brightening gloomy colder months with their nodding, bell-shaped flowers.They perform best outdoors but will also grow well indoors if the right conditions exist. In common with many plants Hellebores can get Downy mildew, a fungus, covering the leaves with yellow spots and off white mould. Most plants on well-drained soil in sun or dappled shade (these hellebores do especially well in lightly shaded areas) will be as happy as Larry and their clumps will increase in size year on year. Those hellebores with woody stems may reach 1m. They do best in fertile, well-drained soil. Most will tolerate full sun to almost full shade. Their ability to bloom in the darkest months of the year when everything else is frozen is amazing. The Hellebores lenten rose types will grow almost anywhere, they are best in damp, well drained soil in dappled shade. To ensure the safe passage of the tiny seedling, it can be better to dig it up and pot on into a small container and grow for a season and then plant out. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } Dig your hole deeper and wider than the pot. Instead, collect ripe seed and sow into modules to grow new plants for free. Hellebores flower from December through to mid-spring, although the flowers may stay on the plants longer as they slowly fade, but still look attractive. Aromatic, summer flower spikes and a bushy habit combine to make this evergreen shrub a must-have. First, it displays the flowers at their best, leaving just the new young foliage coming through. Hellebore pruning is relatively easy. Plant hellebores like other perennials, with a sprinkling of mycorrhizal fungi and a spadeful of garden compost to help the plant settle in. When self seed the new seedlings will form a clump near the parent plant which will flower after two or three years, a process which over time creates clumps of Hellebores( image above left) which look good in a natural or woodland setting. Grow in an open site in well-drained, alkaline soil.Flowers: Jan-AprHeight x spread: 30cm x 30cm, Though a well-loved garden plant, even skilled gardeners have trouble persuading it to settle. Your success at growing hellebore from seeds may depend on it. Seed from some types of plants produce “true” to the parent. The Hellebores will flower and look much better without all the tired-looking foliage. Hellebores can be planted at any time of year, as long as the soil isn’t frozen. Please allow some light and air into your plants immediately and keep them in a cool light place. The more unusual Hellebore is H. 'Corsican' which as the name suggests originates from Corsica, which is green with leathery leaves, evergreen and taller than the other Hellebores at around 1.2m (4ft), illustrated centre image. The Casual Gardener: Hellebores banish the winter blues Delicate and understated in appearance, the hellebore is a tough perennial that will flower for decades Hellebores … Hellebores struggle if they’re moved once established, so avoid moving them if possible. This means most Hellebores can be divided in mid to late spring,  and if you are not sure what type of Hellebore you have, divide it after flowering later in the spring. Grow hellebores in fertile, well-drained soil at the front of a border, beneath shrubs or in pots, in sun to partial shade. 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The more sun Hellebores receive, particularly in spring when the foliage is developing, the fuller … If you want to grow Hellebores in dry shade, a variety to try is Helleborus x nigercors or H. foetidus (the stinking hellebore, possibly not so attractive) If so, please consider making a small donation to help maintain and keep the website advert free with no intrusive pop ups or adverts. Hellebores also make great cut flowers – simply snip off flower heads and float in a shallow bowl of water. Hellebores are a fast moving group of plants because new hybrids are being developed all the time and there are dozens of wonderful varieties on sale, with more colours, doubles petals, and some with more upright flower heads. Sow the seed thinly and cover with 6mm (one quarter of an inch)) layer of a mixture of 50% vermiculite and 50% washed grit. There are two additional ways to propagate hellebores:. I tend to remove most of the leaves in January to display the flowers and make way for the new leaf growth which will follow the flowers. This may be better than self seeding as your new plant remains true to the parent plant. They can be striped or spotted, picotee or plain, double or anemone-centred or simply single. Hellebores grow in sun or shade. Firm in gently and water well. Most hellebores have downward-facing flowers. Tips about planting and growing Hellebores. Plants will self-seed readily. Conditions Requirements vary. Hellebores can also get Black death which causes black streaking on the stems, leaves and even flowers and looks different to Leaf Spot as is distinct streaking often along the veins. Each chapter covers a stage in tomato growing including growing from seed, what are grafted plants, growing under glass and outside, in containers, important advice and tips about feeding and watering together with troubleshooting and understanding tomato blight. To grow Hellebores from seed, a 60 day chilling period is needed. Firm in gently and water well. Watch Monty Don‘s video guide to planting and growing hellebores, including soil preparation and planting depth, and how to tackle leaf spot disease. Hellebores can be divided, allowing you to create new plants for free. If you are worried about poisonous plants, the RHS has a comprehensive list plus links to websites which list plants poisonous to pets. Make sure you have some new leaves shooting from each section. The evergreen foliage is a rich, deep green, and the flowers are a pale greenish-pink, darkening as they mature. In 2017/2018 we suffered a very wet winter as a result I cut all the leaves from the Hellebores to remove the black spot infestation. Unless you have a large area to cover and are looking for an economical way to do this you may wish to dead head Hellebores to preserve the integrity of your existing stock of plants. is a concise, informative guide containing all you need to know to grow a tasty crop of tomatoes. No matter how bad the snow, Hellebores seem to lift up their heads and emerge unscathed. Hellebores are in the group of plants whose leaves can cause skin irritation, sometimes severe. In the garden many Hellebores will self seed and multiply into clumps as in the image top left. When you cut back you will need to do so carefully as at ground level the flowers are in bud forming along with new foliage. Planting Seed. Many appreciate retentive soil in at least some shade, but will take full sun if the soil does not dry out. There is one bright green variety of Hellebore, illustrated centre top, Helleborus argutifolius, the Corsican hellebore. No hellebore seedling will be true to its parents – by letting them self-seed randomly you’ll create a hodge-podge of different colours and flower shapes; you may even grow your own new hybrid! Most Helleborus are fully hardy and will grow reliably year after year. Do not fertilize hellebores, but top-dress them with compost once a year. In colder zones, hellebores will break through the frozen ground early in the spring. The plant does not seem to suffer from having many leaves removed, and new ones replace them in the spring. Hellebores flower for a long time and is one of those rare and treasured plants whose flowers look good as they fade. Their flowers have a beautiful simplicity. Hellebores prefer part shade and protection from afternoon sun. So, either keep the seeds in the fridge for that time before trying to plant, or else, plant outdoors in the fall where the cold period will happen naturally. It is best known for being one of the earliest to flower, blooming in late winter, often right through a layer of snow. If your hellebore is dry, water well from below before planting. Since these plants do not actively grow in warmer temperatures we feel fall planting is far superior to planting in April of May in warmer areas of the country. Planting advice for Hellebore pot plants. Hellebore planting tips: Many gardeners like to plant hellebores on a hillside or in raised flower beds to better enjoy their downward-facing blooms. Two species are native to the UK. */. Hellebores are quite vigorous and multiple quickly to make larger clumps. If you already have a plant in your yard, you don’t worry about this. You poor folks in … Grow hellebores at the front of a border in sun, or full or partial shade, depending on the variety you choose. In warm locales, Helleborus orientalis can bloom outdoors at Christmastime. Follow the steps below: Choose a position that is in part shade. Blooms may be plain or patterned. If your Hellebores are tall with green flowers, it maybe  best not to divide them. Given that Hellebores flower early in the year, they are a good source of nectar for emerging solitary bees. If you want to grow Hellebores in dry shade, a variety to try is  Helleborus x nigercors or  H. foetidus (the stinking hellebore, possibly not so attractive). The solution is to remove the leaves at the first sight of it, the same as with Leaf Spot. To enjoy the delicate flowers, because in many varieties the nodding flower heads hang down,  Hellebores are ideal for planting on a bank. Helleborus niger (Christmas rose) is best divided in the spring and Helleborus x hybrids, the lenten rose  and the orientalis varieties, are best divided in the late summer or autumn. Cut back the large leathery leaves when flowers and new foliage emerge and mulch plants annually with well-rotted compost or manure. Watch Monty Don‘s video guide to planting and growing hellebores, including soil preparation and planting depth, and how to tackle leaf spot disease. After replanting Hellebores may take a little while to re-establish, which can mean a lack of flowers in the following late winter/spring, but they should start to do better after that. There are some early flowering varieties which look good in December, (image bottom right H. "Christmas Carol") and in tubs to create a winter bedding scheme. The trick is to start planting hellebore seeds in late spring or early summer, just as Mother Nature does. Get three Forsythia ‘Mini Gold’ for half price! Hellebore plants are among the earliest perennial flowers to bloom, welcoming spring with their rose-like blossoms. This image is the same the Hellebores shown above when they were cut back early in January. You could double, triple or even quadruple your stock, depending on the size of the clump you dig up. Once it is acclimated to staying out day and night, plant the hellebore in your garden. Hellebores are widely tolerant of most conditions if you have a particular spot in mind, it is worth considering the following tips. Sow hellebore seed as soon as possible (preferably in July or August), in Supagro Seed Compost (our own brand available in-store only) or you can use a mixture of 50% John Innes Seed Compost and 50% good quality multi-purpose compost. If grown in sunnier conditions, the soil needs to be more moist. Because hellebores struggle when moved, it’s best not to divide them. Make sure you select any ornamental grasses, perennials, annuals or shrubs that have the same growing requirements as your Hellebores. Helleborus not very demanding to soil but grow best in partial shade of shrubs and trees — where drained loose soil is always wet. Monty also looks at how to choose the best flowers for instant impact, and shows off the diversity of his hellebore collection: Cut back the large leathery leaves when flowers and new foliage emerge, and mulch plants annually with well-rotted compost or manure. Improve drainage if necessary by adding a couple of spade fulls of well-rotted compost and horticultural grit to the soil when you plant the hellebore. All rights reserved. Remember that, once planted, hellebores hate being moved, so avoid moving them once you’ve planted them. Touch the products for details or to Buy In Store. Browse By Price. Helleborus x ericsmithii is an unusual three-way hybrid hellebore. Plant hellebores in well-drained soil Provide even moisture, though they will tolerate some drought once they are established. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. Hellebores are typically woodland edge plants. Season Winter and spring. Hellebores are good for under planting deciduous shrubs. This means Hellebores are plants you can place in most parts of the garden. Hellebores are easy to grow in any garden, and dependable. Caption: Be careful not bury flower buds or growth when you mulch. Origins Europe, especially the Balkans, with outliers in China and along the Turkey-Syria border. Hellebores require relatively little hands-on care apart from regular watering and feeding, making them a hassle-free houseplant. Almost all of them have evolved methods of successful procreation. A great garden variety, not too vigorous, yet fruiting early to mid-season in Jul-Aug, they can also be grown in large containers. When growing hellebores on heavy clay or free draining gravel soils, add plenty of well rotted leaf … The image below shows what Hellebore black spot looks like,  and the simple solution is to cut off the leaf, or as many leaves as are infected. How to plant hellebores. They thrive in rich, moisture-retentive soil but struggle in boggy and wet conditions. When the germination began to … There are fewer pollinators around when hellebores are in flower, but the blooms bear rich nectar and lots of pollen, making them an instant hit for hungry bumblebees. Remove affected foliage when you spot it. The second image shows the same plant after cut back. Other plants to try: double red bellis daisies, bergenias, Viburnum tinus. Hellebore. They come out in all their glory when most other plants and are still in deep dormancy. Hellebores are naturally deep-rooted plants, so they generally do not grow well in containers. 2. There is agreement that all infected leaves should be removed, and not composted. Available direct from The Sunday Gardener in paperback - for more information, buying options and reviews and how to buy click here. Hellebore Plants For Sale From UK Nurseries & Garden Stores. They need great drainage. This will prevent any shock. Hellebores have masses of thick, fibrous roots so it is best to put two hand forks in their crown and then tease them apart. From the team at Gardeners' World Magazine, BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine – try 3 issues for only £5. Not all will self seed, and even if they do the will often be different, and inferior to the parent plant. Subscribe to BBC Gardeners' World Magazine and receive your first 3 issues for only £5. Most hellebores are listed for sale when they’re in flower – from late winter to early spring, but you may find one in the bargain section of a garden centre in summer, which you can plant without any problems. I hope you have enjoyed the information on this website and found it useful. Hellebores (Helleborus spp.) Most  Hellebores routinely offered for sale are Helleborus hybridus ( previously known as H.orientalis,) commonly known as the Lenten rose to distinguish from Helleborus Niger, the Christmas rose which flowers earlier.