Perennial. Hellebore blooms come in variety of colors including green, white, yellow, red, black, and many variations of pink and purple. It’s suited to growing in Zones 6 to 9. The foliage of this variety mounds at the base and is smooth and leathery. It’s not well known or widely available, and precise market descriptions are typically vague. It is characterized by partially open, bell-shaped blossoms that may nod or face outward. A noteworthy fact is that unlike the other species, and most plants, H. thibetanus does not produce cotyledons, or the embryonic seed leaves of indefinite shape that usually come first when seedlings sprout. The soft, light-green foliage beneath the blossoms is comprised of serrated leaves with seven to 11 segments each. There are double-flowered hellebores, for instance, unspeakably beautiful, which I might want most. You can find seeds for the ‘Onyx Odyssey’ variety available from Burpee. An example of this is Helleborus x hybridus, the cross between H. orientalis and another species in the Helleborastrum section. Despite all hellebores having the Latin “Helleborus” in their name, the only member of Mathew’s Helleborus classification is H. niger, aka the Christmas rose. The leaves are lance-like, of medium width with prominent serration. H. argutifolius is the holly-leaved hellebore. In an effort to bring order to a mishmash of identified hellebore species, Mathew examined their physical characteristics, and discovered that they all fit nicely into one of six basic botanical types. Hellebore is a type of flowering plant that belongs to the buttercup family. The undersides of the sepals are purple or bright green. In order to ensure that a hellebore grows true to type the plant growers need to isolate each variety and this makes them expensive to grow and of course, expensive to buy. This is an acaulescent type that may hold on to some of its leaves year-round. Winter Jewels. In this section are plants with leaves that consist of three segments, like the foot of a … Hellebore is an elegant perennial winter flower, which is suitable for shady areas during late winter and spring. They are smooth, leathery, and jaggedly serrated. Bloom time is from late winter to early spring. The first reason is that hellebores need the right amount of light (sun) than other types of plants. The striping and deep purple color make H. torquatus a popular plant for hybridizing. This variety does not produce the largest or most dramatic hellebore flowers, but it does grow vigorously and creates lush foliage. In addition, some are bred to enhance what was once a mutation, the formation of a row of petals inside the outer row of sepals, called “doubling.”. It is pedate, but much less segmented than that of other species. While many varieties of hellebores exist, Helleborus orientalis, the Lenten Rose, is among the earliest of winter bloomers and offers the widest selection of colors. There are almost-black Lenten rose cultivars available that fall within the Helleborastrum section, such as Helleborus x hybridus Winter Jewels® ‘Onyx Odyssey,’ that are actually very deep purple. For me, hellebores are an indispensable plant for any serious gardener.” FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS. Hellebores need a well-drained, coarse soil with lots of aeration. Expect blossoms from late winter to early spring. A note about hellebores: There are nearly two dozen species—and of those, many cultivars—and I wish I had more types growing in my garden. They produce flowers early in spring and have evergreen foliage, so hellebore adds color and texture year round. Many hellebore species are poisonous. Instead, leathery green foliage is clustered at the tops of stems that reach three to four feet tall at maturity. The hybrid between the two, Helleborus x sternii, is a fine plant for winter containers, and some forms have exceptionally beautiful foliage as well as pretty flowers. A distinguishing feature of H. odorus is the slightly joined carpels that become evident when the seed pods begin to swell. However, allowing them to do so may result in unexpected hybrids if you grow multiple types in close proximity. It is still in use today. Double-flowered hellebores tend to be slightly shorter in stature, so they are well-suited to pots. COPYRIGHT © 2020 ASK THE EXPERTS LLC. The leaves are palmate, meaning that they fan out like fingers, with seven to nine segments. It is not recommended to pot liners during this time. Petite plants generally top out at 12 inches, but sometimes reach twice this height. There are three main leaf segments that are further subdivided. This pretty variety produces an abundance of ivory colored flowers that also have chartreuse and blush veining in the petals. This type of pruning is commonly called deadheading. These are also known as Lenten rose. Not many plants can thrive in a shady spot, around the roots of mature trees, and faced with the chance of becoming deer food. Growing Hellebores: Tips at a Glance. Helleborus foetidus, called the stinking, bear foot or bear paw hellebore, offers flowers in a pastel shade of green and has an unusual fragrance disliked by some; consequently it may be referred to as stinking. Sign up for our newsletter. The basal leaves are bright green, finely divided, and serrated, with a pedate tendency. While history and research suggest that some species may have antibacterial or anti-inflammatory properties, hellebore plants are poisonous. Pot (1-Pack) Model# 67378 $ 29 98. Common name: Christmas rose. At this time, there are approximately 20 different recognized hellebore species. Famously long-flowering, at a time when little else is in bloom, and fabulous for cutting. Broccoli Buttoning: What Causes Multiple Tiny Heads? New foliage may be tinged with purple. It is sparse in the bracts beneath the blossoms. Forms a compact clump. Types of Spring Flowers. Colors range from chartreuse to green. H. niger grows to between 9 and 12 inches tall at maturity. Mature heights range from 8 to 14 inches. This variety is best grown in Zones 5 to 9. They start out green and turn brown, protruding to a length that’s about three times as long as the flowers. Helleborus niger offers pristine, pure white flowers from late winter to early spring on purple-spotted 1-foot-tall stems. Double blooms or single, spotted or freckle-free, there are many hellebores to choose from. Black Hellebore (Helleborus niger) This is the most common and popular in the landscape design form hellebore. Green to purple saucer-shaped flowers with slightly pointed sepals characterize H. multifidus. H. lividus, the Majorcan hellebore, resembles H. argutifolius with its three-part leaf. Mature heights reach 18 inches. This is a deciduous type. The height of this plant is a petite 8 to 12 inches. It has smaller blossoms that are slightly pointed and measure one to two inches. The sepals are light green and slightly pointed, cup-shaped, and nodding. These perennial flowers are hardy to zone 4, so they can grow in many different gardens. They bloom early, often at the beginning of winter. The next three species, H. odorus, H. purpurascens, and H. viridis, were all profiled in depth in The Sex Lives of Hellebores because they are all parents of the hybrid hellebores. Commonly known as Hellebores, the genus Helleborus is comprised of approximately 20 species (ongoing fieldwork may see this figure change) of herbaceous perennial flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae. In addition to the true species, there are cultivars as well, including the pleasantly scented ‘Miss Jekyll,’ bright green three-foot ‘Green Giant,’ 12-inch dwarf ‘Sierra Nevada Group,’ and the ‘Wester Flisk Group,’ with its red-tinged stems and leaves. Hellebore. Perennial. Each has a pedate, or foot-and-toes, arrangement of multiple narrow, serrated segments. Bloom time is from late winter to early spring. Mainly evergreen with handsome leaves, they thrive in shadier parts of the garden. The sepals are slightly pointed and the flowers may have a musky or slightly sweet odor. Do hellebores spread? There is only one species in this category. Sometimes the stalks are a purplish color. Hellebore ‘Ashwood Garden Hybrids’ – regarded as some of the best hellebore hybrids, there are many cultivars to choose from – all are healthy and robust plants, and produce flowers in a variety of colours and forms Helleborus argutifolius – the Corsican hellebore has bright green flowers and spiny, evergreen foliage.The flowers appear in winter, and remain on the plants for a long time. ... Buying Guide. Unlike most varieties, instead of producing individual seed pods, those of H. vesicarius unite to form one large pod. Types and varieties of hellebore. Thin out any new seedlings that are too close to mature plants. This hellebore is just stunning, with masses of deep burgundy red flowers on red stems from winter through to mid spring. There is Cherry Blossom, white and pink flowers with red centers; Golden Sunrise, which is yellow; Apricot Blush with apricot tinged, white petals; and the stunning Black Diamond. But hellebores have just the survival skills needed to face such a challenge. When you choose to grow late-winter to early-spring-blooming hellebores, you provide a valuable food source for bumblebees who often struggle to find nectar-rich plants during this time. H. dumetorum thrives in Zones 4 to 8. … The latter produces purple foliage that turns green and dark burgundy blooms that are nearly black. Debates within the hellebore community continue and will likely result in further fine-tuning of this classification system in the future. You can find 50 seeds for H. foetidus available via Amazon. Helleborus orientalis is one of the most toxic varieties of true hellebore, and also one of the most popular in modern gardens. This is a deciduous type that drops its leaves at the end of the growing season. ... Buying Guide. UK purveyors describe the flowers as “medium-large,” with a scent similar to elderberry or currant. False hellebore is also toxic. The flowers are small and pale green. Commonly known as the Lenten rose, H. orientalis exhibits numerous colors and forms and is exceptionally hardy, making it the most frequently cross-bred variety. Bloom time is later than most – don’t expect to see flowers until spring. For more information on the fascinating world of hellebore hybridization, I recommend reading “Hellebores: A Comprehensive Guide” by C. Colston Burrell and Judith Knott Tyler. Hellebores are split into two basic groups, acaulescent (without stems) and caulescent (with stems). Hellebore plants are among the earliest perennial flowers to bloom, welcoming spring with their rose-like blossoms. The hellebore, Helleborus, is a member of the expansive Ranunculaceae family. It is suited to growing in Zones 4 to 8, and blooms in late winter. This plant does well in Zones 4 to 8, and blooms from late winter to early spring. H. cyclophyllus is similar to H. odorus. It is well suited to gardens in Zones 4 to 8. I sell most of the species by special order, but here I want to profile the five that I will be featuring this year. This type is suitable for growing in Zones 5 to 9. While many varieties of hellebores exist, Helleborus orientalis, the Lenten Rose, is among the earliest of winter bloomers and offers the widest selection of colors. In warm locales, Helleborus orientalis can bloom outdoors at Christmastime. Related Searches. There are also two subspecies of H. niger: H. niger ssp. This is a short-lived perennial that will likely to leave seedlings behind. The flowers tend to face outward instead of nodding in a downward direction. There are many varieties of hellebores and the number is increasing at a rapid rate as plant breeders produce new ones. The genus is native to much of Europe, from western Great Britain, Spain and Portugal, eastward across the Mediterranean region and central Europe into Romania and Ukraine, and … They are snowy white and gradually fade to pink, then green. If you are new to growing these pretty winter flowers, see our guide to growing hellebores. H. viridis is deciduous. The Christmas Rose. This variety of hellebore develops green-white flowers with pink veining and dark red around the edge of each petal. Hellebores Are Made for Shade Brighten your garden with hellebores, also called Lenten roses. Types and varieties of hellebore. This plant matures to a height of approximately 15 inches. The sepals are bell-like, with deep purple backs and green undersides. In nature, it is often found in territories from southern Germany and to the Balkan Peninsula, growing mainly on mountain woodlands. There are around 20 species of hellebore that originate from Europe and Asia. There are 17 Hellebore species. They open to a shallow saucer shape. It is also known as the Corsican hellebore, H. corsicus, from an earlier classification. Even within a single species, you may find different sizes, colors, leaf shapes, and petal or sepal traits. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! The sepals are slightly pointed. It has nodding heads of light green that measure approximately one to two inches in diameter. In these conditions, a lot of water can be drained from a container of this type, so you will have to take it outside during the spring to plant it in your garden. Hellebores also need much more water, especially if you live in a very dry climate. Here are some of the most popular varieties and a list of some notable ones that would be a beautiful addition to your garden.