Garden Cameos: Hellebores' popularity stems from variety

There are not many perennials that have as many wonderful qualities as hellebores. Hellebores have been around for a long time and recently, they have become extremely popular.

The varieties that are being developed today have brought new life to this perennial. The plants are admired because of their bloom time and because they are pretty and easy to grow. They also are deer- and vole-resistant, will take drought and neglect once established and are long lived.

There are about 15 species of hellebores. Helleborus niger, also known as Christmas rose, is not a rose at all but a very early-blooming form of helleborus. It is said to bloom at Christmas but I find it blooms later, usually closer to the end of January. The blooms are most often white, but can become pink with some age.

Helleborus orientalis, also known as Lenten rose, is a clumping form of hellebore that blooms during Lent. This plant features large, cup-shaped, rose-like flowers. Lenten roses have a broad range of flower color including white, pink, rose, rose-purple, almost black purple, yellow and shades in-between. Some have inside spotting that can add to the beauty of the flower.

Helleborus foetidus, also known as stinking hellebores, have an unusual odor when the leaves are crushed, hence the name. The dark green, deeply cut foliage makes a wonderful show, particular during the winter months. The pendant flowers are a pale green that can open anywhere from December until spring. It is advised not to plant this variety too close to other varieties if you are looking for your plant to self-seed. If this variety cross-pollinates, the seedlings might not look like the parent plant.

Hellebores are easy to grow and are a wonderful winter-flowering perennial. They like some shade and are ideal for a woodland garden. If they get too much summer sun, the leaves will burn and if the shade is too dense, the plant will not put on as heavy a show of flowers as it would with high shade.

When planting helleborus, be sure to amend the soil. This will help develop a good root system. Keep the soil moist but not wet until the plants are well established. You will be rewarded with a plant that can take drought, but it has to be well established first.

There are many new hellebore hybrids available as well. Breeders from around the world are working to come up with plants with exotic-looking flowers. There are double flower forms and ones with unusual flower coloration. Some of the newer ones are quite dynamite when in bloom.

One of my favorite hybrids is Honeyhill Joy, an exceptional plant with lovely outward-facing white flowers. These flowers turn lime green with a pinkish tint with age. Honeyhill Joy is a vigorous plant, typically growing 12- to 18-inches tall. The plant is sterile, which means I do not have to worry about little seedlings sprouting all over that bed, but it also means I cannot share it with friends.

Helleborus orientalis has the most hybrids being grown and they are highly sought after. With all the different color combinations available and the flowers they produce, it is no wonder. There are some new varieties on the market from Marietta O’Byrne, one of the world’s top hybridizers.

I asked Ernie O’Byrne, who works alongside his wife, what were some of their favorite varieties and he said, “That would be like asking what was their favorite child.” He did say “Golden Sunrise is wonderful because the yellow is so clear compared to the older yellows (no green at all) and the foliage turns a gorgeous golden yellow in the winter. The leaves even have red petioles and veins.”

They like Cotton Candy for its large clear pink flowers and the colors they turn as the flowers grow older. They are also excited about a new “color break” in the White Pearl. Black Diamond and Onyx Odyssey are also favorites because the color holds long into the season and they pair very well with early light-colored perennials or bulbs.

The foliage of hellebores can be cut back in December before the flowers emerge. This will make the flower stand out when in bloom. This is not required, since the foliage will eventually die and new foliage will develop.

Hellebores are typically long-lived plants and do not need to be divided as other perennials might need to be. If you do wish to divide the plants, do so in September or October. Leave at least three buds in each division. This way the plant will have a speedy recovery.

Hellebores make lovely cut flowers. It is advised to use a commercial preservative in the water, or you can use two tablespoons of alcohol per quart of water to help keep the blooms looking pretty longer. It is also advised to use a vase where the stems will have plenty of water covering them.