I was visiting the Seattle Center when I first encountered a hellebore. After leaving my car in the garage next to the center, I crossed the sky bridge and went down the steps to the pavement leading to the entrance to the common area. The hellebores, who would soon become my new closest friends, were housed in towering aggregate concrete planters that were visible through the gates.
Wow! As a representation of the Helleborus orientalis, these plants were in flower in February and had light green and pale burgundy blossoms.
I had to know what they were, and I had to know how to say their name. Being as clever as they are, they recognized my name right away. Once a plant mentions my name, I’m hooked. Like the first “e, the second “e in “hellebore is pronounced with a short “e. With this BPF, you can now start off strong (best plant friend).
Now, hold off on going in search of a local hellebore. They are not only not native to the Pacific Northwest, but also not to the United States in general. This perennial herb belongs to the Ranunculaceae family (as in the uninvited pernicious buttercups everywhere in our growing area). The hellebore’s range extends from the British Isles through eastern Europe, Turkey, and finally China. But they also enjoy it here.
Hellebores are typically non-finicky, long-living plants that thrive along woodland slope edges. Since they are known to be changeable in nature, there are roughly 15 species—some even say 20—that are challenging to recognize and categorize. Neither acidic nor alkaline soils bother them. However, they like richly humified soil that has been plowed deeply. They grow well in gardens that face the north, with bleeding heart and phlox blooming later. The buttercup family also includes the delphinium, clematis, anemone, and columbine.
It starts to get complex at this point. Here, we’re talking about a spellcheck meltdown. The hellebore caulescent and “acaulescent categories describe the plant’s growth structure.
As a result, some hellebore species have stems (caulescent), while others don’t (acaulescent). The stemmed variety produces clumps of tall, evergreen stems. Early to midwinter is when “racemesor flower stems” develop. This will only happen once. If a stem blossoms, it won’t do so again and can be cut from the plant in early to mid-May. When this year’s blooms are maximized, new stems will develop and bear the blooms of the following year.
The acaulescent species, which have no stems, produce leaves and flowers that emerge directly from the soil. These are frequently referred to as “Lenten roses,” as the plants bloom in the early spring and the blossoms have a rose-like appearance (though they are not related). Some of these hellebores are the now well-liked “Helleborushybridus,” which may be purchased in a variety of colors at nearby nurseries throughout the winter. People like to trim the leaves back in the early late fall or early winter to improve the enjoyment of these blooms by promoting new growth and getting rid of any diseased or unhealthy leaves.
Hellebores are best purchased in February and March when there is a widest selection and the plants are in bloom. So, write down the names of your chosen favorites.
As the blooming season for hellebores comes to an end, keep a look out for bargains starting in April. Despite the limited options, now is a fantastic time to grab a deal. Your list of names is ready to go!
Be warned: Hellebore kids do not always resemble their mothers, just like humans. Helleborus x hybridus seedlings in the garden, where bees are active pollinators, will have the best chance of resembling the parent if related hues are planted together. While color blending might produce some fascinating seedlings, it can also create a lot of hybrids that are murky in hue.
The blue-black hellebore is a hybridized form of the Helleborus x hybridus (NZFauna).
One type of hellebore that grows on stems is the Corsican hellebore (Acabashi) (a “caulescent hellebore). This plant is distinguished by its leathery, triangular leaves.
Because it blooms in the early spring, Red Lady Hellebore is often known as a “Lenten rose” (David Stang). It serves as an illustration of an acaulescent hellebore.
Where is the hellebore plant native?
Hellebores are indigenous to Slovenia, Macedonia, and southern and central Europe. They frequently grow on stony clay soils and on mountains.
Do hellebores spread quickly?
A little evergreen perennial with winter and spring blooms that typically begin as early as late January is the hellebore. Rhizomatous roots help the clumps slowly spread, although they are not invasive. Its leaves have a palmate pattern and are separated into leaflets.
Does hellebore grow wild?
One species that is frequently planted in gardens and containers is Helleborus niger, also known as the Christmas rose. However, it was originally a wild species indigenous to Central Europe. It now grows naturally in many more areas, occasionally appearing in forested areas of low-lying mountain ranges. This perennial, which can withstand temperatures as low as 5F (-15C), usually starts to spread in deciduous forests and calcareous terrain.
The Christmas rose is a grassy plant that is poisonous and has stems that can grow up to a foot or a foot and a half tall and are green with scarlet streaks (0.3 to 0.4 m). This plant is known for its leathery, bright green, evergreen leaves and short, blackish rhizomes. There are two to four flowers, each measuring between two and four inches, on each flowering scape (5 to 10 cm). They are frequently single flowers, but they can also emerge in pairs, and their color changes over time from white to pink.