If you are looking for a perennial plant that provides interesting and colorful blossoms during the winter and into early spring, grows in partial shade, and is easy to grow, the genus Hellebore is a good candidate.
Hellebores are evergreen woodland plants from southern Europe and the Mediterranean region. They grow well in the Monterey Bay area, in shaded areas of the garden. The ideal environment for these plants would be under a deciduous tree where they would have sun exposure during the winter and shade during their dormant months.
These are historically popular plants. The generic name comes from ancient Greek words for “injury” and “food,” reflecting their poisonous qualities. Advice to gardeners: Don’t Eat the Hellebores. The good news is that Hellebores are safe from deer and gophers, who wisely avoid them.
There are 22 recognized species of the genus Helleborus. The two major categories of the species are caulescent (leaves on flowering stems) and acaulescent(basal leaves and flower stalks without leaves). The larger number of species are acaulescent.
Hybridizers have produced numerous cultivars and extended the color-range of the flowers to include slate grey, near-black, deep purple and plum, through rich red and pinks to yellow, white and green. Hybrids also include double-flowered and semi-double varieties, which have encouraged some gardeners to call them roses, although Hellebores are in the Ranuncula family and not at all related to roses.
Here are introductions to four popular Hellebore species.
Christmas Rose (H. niger). Despite its common name, this acaulescent plant rarely blossoms during the Christmas season, but is highly regarded for gracing the garden from January through March . It is the best known and showiest of the species hellebores. Its blossoms are generally pure white with green eyes but may have pinkish tints. Some forms age to dark pink, almost red. This is a smaller species, growing 12 inches high and 18 inches wide. It is native to mountainous areas of Switzerland, southernmost Germany and Austria, through Slovenia and into Croatia together with northern Italy.
Corsican Hellebore” (H. argutifolius). A large caulescent species, typically reaching 4 feet high and wide. Its distinctive appearance includes stout stems, spiny leaves and large heads of delightful; apple green flowers. It produces seedlings in profusion, resulting in a swath of the plant in my garden and seasonal sharing of small plants in the local garden exchange. As suggested by its common name, it is native to Corsica and Sardinia.
Lenten Rose (H. orientalis). This acaulescent species is the basis for the greatest number of Hellebore hybrids. Native throughout Greece to the Caucasus mountains, it grows up to 18 inches high, and produces blossoms that are generally white with a varying amount of cream or green shading; some varieties may have red or purple spots. Lent is the six-week period leading up to Easter, so this plant’s common name refers to the bloom period from late February to early April.
Stinking Hellebore (H. foetida). This caulescent plant’s bloom period is like that of the Lenten Rose. It grows up to 24 inches high and 18 inches wide and produces greenish-white flowers. Its common name reflects its aromatic flowers and bruised foliage, which some gardeners regard as fetid (bad smelling), while others find it simply unpleasant or unusual. A less off-putting common name is Bear’s Foot, referring to the shape of its leaves.
Gardeners seeking to add Hellebores to their gardens could visit local garden centers at this time of the year to see plants in bloom. Online shopping will display photographs of blooming plants, and the large and growing range of hybrids.
Hellebores are excellent additions to the winter shade garden.
Tom Karwin is past president of Friends of the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum, Monterey Bay Area Cactus & Succulent Society, and Monterey Bay Iris Society, and a Lifetime UC Master Gardener (Certified 1999–2009). Visit ongardening.com for previous columns. Send comments or questions to gardening@karwin.com.
