INTOXICATING HELLEBORES
Once they were used as a deadly poison – but now they add a unique sparkle to winter
If you’d never heard of them, you might imagine that plants going under the drab-sounding name of hellebore might be a little dull. Yet there’s nothing boring about these perennials. And they’re a must-have for the winter garden, thanks to their showy flowers and architectural foliage.
These early-flowering treasures have saucer-, cup- or bell-shaped blooms and come in white, yellow, green, peach, pink, red, purple, grey and near-black. Some have petals that are speckled or splashed with contrasting markings.
The single or double flowers are displayed above handsome evergreen foliage between January and April, depending on variety. And due to their deeply lobed shape, leaves provide interest long after the flowers have faded.
Originating mainly from Europe and western Asia, hellebores are happy in most moisture-retentive soils apart from those that are very acidic. They flower best in a slightly shaded spot under trees or shrubs. Although there are some exceptions – Corsican hellebore (Helleborus argutifolius) thrives in dry soil with full sun.
A good place to see them is next month at Burtown House and Gardens in Athy, Co Kildare.
The botanical name of this winter treasure hints at a more sinister past. Hellebore is made up of two Greek words: hellein (to kill) and bora (food). It warns of the consequences of consuming the roots, which are poisonous.
History records the toxin being responsible for several assassinations, and it was used as a primitive biological weapon by Athenians besieging the city of Kirra in 600 BC. Hellebore roots were secretly added to the city’s water supply, giving the inhabitants chronic diarrhoea. Happily, these days we grow hellebores for their striking flowers. The earliest to bloom is Helleborus niger, whose 3in saucer-shaped flowers – pure white or heavily flushed with pink – can appear in late December, leading to it being dubbed the Christmas rose. Helleborus niger is the parent of some fine varieties, including the ‘Potter’s Wheel’ with its 4in blooms.
Another important type is the colourful Lenten rose, or Helleborus x hybridus, and there are a staggering number to choose from. Bred in Germany, the ‘Lady Series’ features flowers in strong colours on upright stems, while the ‘Winter Jewel Collection’ boasts double flowers. Perhaps the most famous hellebores are the ‘Ashwood Garden Hybrids’, created at Ashwood Nurseries in the UK – there are more than 50 in a rainbow of colours and shapes.
If I could grow just one type of hellebore, it would be Helleborus foetidus. Its sprays of bell-shaped, lime-green flowers aren’t the showiest, but it makes a cracking clump of deeply divided foliage.
These perennials are largely trouble-free, but they are vulnerable to hellebore leaf spot. Leaves of infected plants eventually fall out to leave a ragged appearance. Stop the disease spreading by cutting off and burning any blighted leaves. Some gardeners go one step further, completely defoliating plants in early winter and leaving just the flower stems. Fresh leaves will appear in the spring.
Hellebores displayed in containers are less vulnerable to leaf spot as plants tend to be contaminated when foliage is in contact with soil. Plant into 8in to 15in pots filled with a rich compost, along with extra grit to improve drainage.
Caring for plants in pots is easy. Water once or twice a week in the growing season, and raise containers on to pot feet to allow excess moisture to drain away in winter. Plants form flower buds in late summer and early autumn, so ensure a great floral display by feeding at this time with a balanced liquid fertiliser.