Get Planting .... heavenly hellebores
Few perennials produce such a seductive display of bloom in the depths of winter as hellebores – the Christmas or Lenten roses. Recent years have seen a flurry of breeding activity to improve the range and performance of these early-flowering perennials, which, dependant on variety, can be in bloom from late autumn through to spring.
The early-flowering types, such as ‘Christmas Carol’, are based on the familiar white-flowered Christmas rose Helleborus niger, which flowers from January, while German-bred ‘Cinnamon Snow’ comes from
H. ballardiae, a hybrid of H. niger and evergreen H. lividus. The ‘Ice ‘n’ Roses’ series from the same breeder comes from the hybrid H. gladofensis, a cross between the hybrid H. ericsmithii and a hybrid Lenten rose, H. hybridus.
Hellebores are generally easy to please and grow, revelling in most soil types as long as they’re not too dry or waterlogged. They’re ideal for heavy or clay soil, too. They prefer semi-shaded positions and are ideal for woodland gardens or growing beneath deciduous shrubs.
They’re also excellent for pots for seasonal patio displays, particularly compact kinds such as ‘Christmas Carol’, but move them to a shadier position in summer to avoid them becoming cooked in the heat.
For pots use a loam-based compost such as John Innes No 2 or a mix containing loam and peat-free multi-purpose compost. Keep plants watered and fed. Once flowers are over, unless you want them to set seed remove the spent stems to encourage fresh new growth. Also remove any yellowing foliage and stems and foliage infected by leaf spot disease before it becomes a problem. Symptoms are brown or black spots of various sizes on affected parts. H. niger is particularly prone. You can also spray fungicides such as Provanto Fungus Fighter Plus or Toprose Fungus Control and Protect to help control the spread.