Flowering Hellebores
This time of year, anyone who walks around my Bedford, New York farm always admires the beautiful hellebore flowers.
Hellebores come in such an artful array of colors, markings and formations, it’s hard not to love these fascinating perennials. Sometimes known as Lenten rose or Christmas rose, these plants are long-lived, easy-to-grow and thrive in shady locations. I’ve had hellebores in my gardens for many years, and I find it so rewarding to have blooms that start in March, and continue through spring until the end of May - to me, hellebores are must-haves for any gardener's collection.
Here are some photos of the hellebores blooming at my farm now, enjoy.
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- Hellebores are members of the Eurasian genus Helleborus – about 20 species of evergreen perennial flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae. They blossom during late winter and early spring for up to three months. I have many hellebores planted around my farm.
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- Hellebores are widely grown for decorative purposes because they are easy-to-grow and are able to resist frost. It is common to plant them on slopes or in raised beds in order to see their flowers, which tend to nod.
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- These plants are best grown in organically rich, humusy, well-drained soils in part to full shade.
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- The bright green foliage looks so dramatic against the colors of their blooms.
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- After the first year, when the plant is well-established, hellebores are very resistant and require little upkeep.
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- Hellebores can reach up to 36 inches in height and width, so be sure to position hellebores in protected areas away from winter winds.
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- Here is a hellebore just about to open.
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- The leaves of most hellebores are leathery, shiny, and edged with shallow teeth.
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- Hellebore flowers come in pretty much any color ranging from pink to red hues, shades of green, white and yellow, apricot and even deep purple.
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- All parts of the hellebore plant are poisonous, including the seeds, so use caution when considering planting location. Hellebores are also deer and vole resistant.
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- Hellebores benefit from a moderate amount of watering. They like to be watered deeply enough to saturate the root zone but then not watered again until the soil feels dry to the touch. These plants are drought tolerant but quite sensitive to soggy soil.
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- Unlike the blooms of most other flowering plants, hellebore flowers do not consist of petals, but of sepals, which serve to protect the flower.
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- Here, one can see the stamens and the carpels – the delicate parts shielded by the sepals.
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- This hellebore has dark colored edges and well-veined undersides.
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- Hellebores also come in many varieties, from veined or picotee, and single, anemone or double flowers.
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- This single flowering hellebore variety is deep purple in color with burgundy leaves.
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- The stamens are long white filaments with bilocular anthers. Each flower can have many stamens.
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- Hellebores produce nectar to attract the few insects that are active at the time of year when hellebores flower.
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- These plants are not choosy about their insects, so all types can pollinate the flowers effectively.
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- Given the right conditions, hellebores will spread nicely in the garden and look beautiful through the season. Wherever you live, I hope you are able to enjoy some of the colors of spring.
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