Hellebores were mentioned in medieval medical texts as a treatment for worms and as a purgative. Gerard, the author of a famous 1633 English herbal, notes that Hellebores were to be found in many a London garden. He also mentions two species found growing wild in English countryside. It is possible that these were introduced as early as the 4th century A.D. by members of the Roman legions, according to the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension.
Garden Guides offers some good information on hellebores. In late winter, new evergreen leaves emerge along with a flowering stem which produces several 2 1/2-inch flowers. The flowers are extraordinarily long-lasting, persisting for six to eight weeks. Flowers are in shades of white and pink, changing color during their long bloom, with white flowers turning more greenish, and pink flowers becoming a deep, rosy tan. A mature plant forms a clump about 24 to 30 inches wide, and nearly as tall, and can have well over 50 blooms in various shades of color.
Lenten Rose like well-drained, fertile soil. They will grow in full shade, but flower better with some sun. They are quite drought tolerant, requiring little extra watering once they are established. The foliage is evergreen, but when the new blooms emerge in late winter, it is best to tidy the plant by carefully trimming off the old, tattered leaves. The leaves can cause a mild skin irritation, so gloves are recommended when handling this plant.
I have just recently become enthralled with Lenten Rose. Once you discover hellebores (in addition to your favorite old gardening shoes and mulch), you will wonder how you ever gardened without this 2005 Perennial Plant of the Year...I know, I am a little slow.
Kathy, how right you are. The hellebore in my gardens are full bloom and gorgeous. Something to keep in mind is to "not" dead head them they go to seed and you'll have little hellebores sprouting up all over to transplant throughout your gardens (where the deer have a tendency to roam and gorge themselves). Oh that's right that's my gardens. They naturalize very nicely. Every woodland garden, especially, needs hellebore...even the stinky green hellebore. Which after it blooms and becomes leggy you just cut out the old growth and you will have new tidier growth growing along side. Also watch for trillium and epimediums. My epimedium rubrums are just starting to bloom and they are such an interestingly fragile plant. Not to mention the pulmonaria that has taken over my front yard, I potted up 2 dozen for the plant sale and could have potted another dozen but I'll leave them for the deer. Spring is the best time of year, especially after soooo much snow this winter.
ReplyDeleteKaren, your spring flowers must be beautiful. I wish I would have discovered hellebore much, much earlier. I have to look around my older plants for some sprouts.
ReplyDeleteI went to the Cumberland Valley Woodlot meeting last night at Spring Haven in Newburg (see earlier post.) Their hellebores are just beautiful, as well as the rest of their Spring ephemerals. I was pretty good - spent less than $25.00. Good news - The April MG meeting will also be there. They've started growing pitcher plants in bog beds in the last few years. Cool.
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