Keep pH at 5.5. Horticulture. Upper right and bottom right, fine deep green foliage is H. foetidus (Stinking Hellebore), it has upright limey yellow green colored blooms, like a stalk sticking straight up. These are shade garden plants. Foliage Type Glossy medium to deep green, leathery … Hardiness will vary with species, but most Hellebores are rated USDA Hardiness Zones 4–9. © 2020 W. Atlee Burpee & Co. All Rights Reserved. Plants produce bushy clumps of thick, leathery evergreen leaves with large cup-shaped flowers. Highly deer resistant, too. Or, as with most perennials, you can divide hellebores. 1 BAREROOT Spacing: 12 - 18 inches Spread: 12 - 18 inches Light Requirements: Partial Shade, Full Shade Foliage Type: Evergreen, glossy leaves that are leathery and palmately divided. 3. Zone: 5 – 9 Winter Jewels® Apricot Blush Lenten Rose Varying shades of peachy-apricot nodding blooms with darker rose veining, speckling or picotee edges that emerging in early spring and lasting for weeks. Hardy to zone 5. niger, Christmas rose, has dark green, leathery leaves. Brings beautiful lightness to the spring shade garden. They can handle spring sun, but plant them in a spot that will become shadier as trees and other plants flush out. Double-flowered hellebore superstar produces large numbers of big, showy blossoms in rich hues. Rich maroon color to chase away the winter doldrums. Helleborus foetidus, commonly called stinking hellebore, is an evergreen perennial that typically grows to 24” tall and is noted for its deeply divided dark green foliage and late winter to early spring bloom (February – April).Leaves are deeply lobed and divided into 7-10, narrow, lance-shaped to … Large double-flowered white blooms herald the arrival of spring. In colder climates, protect hellebores from harsh winter winds. Helleborus orientalis 'Royal Heritage' is an exquisite collection of Hellebore hybrids with cup-shaped flowers, 2 in. The flowers resemble roses in shape. These directions will yield variable results, depending on the quality of the seeds. Ihave had good luck growing a few hellebores in N. Texas for about 5 years. Helleborus x hybridus is usually listed as zone 5 but many gardeners have been having good success with a good mulch of fallen leaves and good snow cover. If you want a particular variety, you will need to purchase plants because they have either been selected or hybridized. Helleborus × hybridus ‘Charmer’ Lenten Rose: USDA Zone: 5-9: Plant number: 1.255.730. Zones 4-8 … Although they like some moisture, don't let hellebores sit in wet soil for prolonged periods of time or they will rot. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. (Nothing like cheap or free, eh? Popular hellebore species include H. niger, the Christmas rose, which bears white flowers that are more upright than the blooms on many other species. Their foliage remains attractive into the summer, so they are suitable for splashy, mass plantings. When buying from catalogs, look for hardiness zone designations. Many species of hellebore have … Blooming depends on both the species and your climate. Helleborus x hybridus. Hellebore’s ability to thrive in northern gardens and provide color to wintery gardens endears it to modern gardeners, who want to brighten up a bleak, February landscape. They are particularly valued by gardeners for their winter and early spring flowering period; the plants are surprisingly frost-resistant and many are evergreen. Helleborus ballardiae 'HGC Merlin' Merlin is a colorful variety that shows off soft pink flowers that mature to a deep purple-pink color. The best time to divide is in early spring before they flower. The Lenten Rose is an easy spring bloomer for the shady woodland garden. Always wear gloves when handling hellebores. Helleborus niger offers pristine, pure white flowers from late winter to early spring on purple-spotted 1-foot-tall stems. This Lenten Rose has large, rosewood coloured flowers with … Hardiness will vary with species, but most Hellebores are rated USDA Hardiness Zones 4–9. It is also known as “bear’s foot.” Its leaves are dark green and the nodding flowers are light green, often with a reddish blush. Hellebores grow best in part shade, with moist but well-drained soils. Additionally, they grow well in zones 4 through 9, and may even be hardy enough to provide late winter color as far north as zone 3. This is a wonderful article on hellebores. Add an organic-rich fertilizer into the soil when planting, then continue to fertilize in spring and early fall. Check out the gallery. Hellebores are widely grown in USDA Zone 5a to 8b gardens for decorative purposes. Helleborus orientalis, commonly called Lenten rose, is a clump-forming, late winter-blooming perennial which typically grows 1-1.5' tall. These three are perennial favorites. Botanical Name: Helleborus orientalis; Height: 15 - 18 inches Ship As: NO. Before you are tempted to say, 'I don't need no stinking hellebores … Hellebores used to be the domain of plant collectors, but recent hybridizing has introduced several easy growing, readily available, and much less expensive varieties. In … long (5 cm), adorned with overlapping petals in a wide range of terrific colors. Hardiness zone ranges are provided for all perennial plants and you should always choose plants that fall within your range. Your browser's Javascript functionality is turned off. Fresh seed can be planted in containers and left outdoors throughout the summer. By using The Spruce, you accept our, 10 Best Annual Flowering Vines for Your Garden, Golden Japanese Forest Grass Plant Profile, Spiked Speedwell (Veronica) Plant Profile. Your browser is currently set to block cookies. Since they nod their heads toward the ground, I’m looking forward to new hybrids which face upwards. The leaves in the upper left are from a burning bush. My oldest plant is now 4 years old and is bearing … Noteworthy Characteristics. Flower Form: 2 1/2 - 4" … Lenten Rose, Hellebore: Hardiness Zone: 5-8S/10W: Exposure: Part Shade to Shade: Find your zone? Leaves have no obvious stems. Hellebores. Learn how to grow Hellebores in containers, Growing condition of Hellebore, Hellebores Care, Pests Problems Hellebores and more about this plant. Its two-part common name refers to the plant's bloom season (around Lent) and the rose-like shape of its flower buds. Thanks, Carolyn. Most varieties will reseed, but if they are hybrids, you never know what you will get. Blooms In: Mar-Apr: Mature Height: 12-18" Spacing: 12-18" Read our Growing Guide: Ships as: ONE QUART POT: Deer Resistance: Yes: Buy more, save more. They tolerate a range of light levels but perform best when protected from hot summer … White Flower Farm is a family-owned mail-order nursery located in northwestern Connecticut. Move them to a cooler spot, around 50 degrees. Once established, they can handle drier soil. The blossoms may be purple, near-black, white, pale green, yellow, pink, rose, and red, some attractively spotted or brushed with a … One of the earliest blooms spotted in many areas, nodding hellebore flowers are often fragrant and long-lasting. Lenten Rose, Hellebore (Helleborus) Part to Full Shade - Zones 4-9. Since 1950 we have been providing a wide range of perennials, annuals, bulbs, shrubs, vines, amaryllis, gardening tools & supplies, and gifts for gardeners. Hellebores can be propagated by division. Always start with fresh seed. Dazzling double flowers in color from bright yellow to yellow with maroon picotee. First, soak the seeds in hot water until they start to swell. Flower stems shoot up above the foliage but nod under the weight of the flowers, which tend to bloom face down. The only real maintenance the plants require is a little cleaning up of their fading leaves. The Corsican Hellebore is iffy in my zone but does well in this sheltered location against the house wall. Our production manager used to live in Winnipeg where she successfully grew and bloomed Winter Jewels hellebores. Late winter blooms! This site uses cookies to enable shopping cart usage, provide you with relevant product and promotions, and measure performance. This year I added a new one. Water hellebores early morning or late evening. Hellebores prefer partial to full shade. You should see germination within another four to six weeks. Valued for its early blooms of purple, red, yellow, green, blue, lavender, and pink, and its leathery evergreen fol… If you sow them as soon as they drop from the pods, they will germinate with minimal effort. Long blooming, mostly in creamy shades of white, tinged with green or pink, the colors tend to change or deepen as they age. In warm locales, Helleborus orientalis can bloom outdoors at Christmastime. Zone zone 3-4 (9) zone 5-6 (15) zone 7-8 (15) zone 9-10 (11) Perennials View all Perennials. Highly deer resistant, too. They will do this naturally outdoors, but if you want to start seeds indoors, it will take some finesse. Hellebores grow best in soil that is rich with organic matter and well-draining. It can take a year or more for them to complete their dormancy cycle. Botanical Name Helleborus 'Soft Pink' (Single Pink) Form Perennial; Hardiness Zone 4-9; Flowering Time From late winter until mid spring; Light Requirements Partial Shade, Full Shade; Flower Color Soft pink; Flower Form 4" flowers with 5 petals. You can move the seedlings to another location in the garden once they are large enough to handle and have developed true leaves. Different varieties of the hellebore plant offer a range of flower colors, from white to black. Growing Hellebores: Tips at a Glance. 1 for $26.95 total 3 for $78.45 total Flowers of hellebores are a welcome sight when they bloom in late winter to early spring, sometimes while the ground is still covered with snow. Its fingered evergreen leaves are leathery in texture. Green-tinted ivory petals that age to rose. Very early blooms in unique apple green and rose. Basal leaves with 5 to 11 sharply toothed leaflets; branched flowering stems to 1 feet tall, with leaf- like bracts at branching points. Lenten rose (Helleborus x hybridus), a perennial belonging to the buttercup family, is not actually a rose. Hardy to zone 6. foetidus, stinking hellebore, is so named because its foliage has a pungent scent when it is crushed. When they split open in early summer, scatter the seeds where you want them to grow or start them in pots and plant them out when they are large enough to move. Hellebores are generally pest-free but watch for slugs and aphids. Creates instant drama with large, 2.5-3" purple-black to black double-flowers. Some gardeners are even blooming Lenten roses in zone 3! There are some species and hybrids that will not, but many of the Helleborus x hybridus and some of the species (H. niger in particular) will bloom well in USDA 5. The vigorous and hardy Lenten Rose blooms in the winter and early spring garden before other plants awaken. Marie Iannotti is an author, photographer, and speaker with 27 years of experience as a Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator and Master Gardener, The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. If foliage is winter-worn, it can be cut back to basal growth in the spring, before flowering. It is easiest to dig the entire plant and shake or wash off the soil, so you can see where the buds are on the crown. Common name: Hybrid Lenten rose Zones: 4 to 9; evergreen in 6 to 9 Bloom time: February-May Bloom size: 2 to 3 1/2” Height/Spread: 18 to 24” tall and 24” wide Site: Partial shade, well-draining soil Characteristics: Low-maintenance, deer-resistant More and more hybrids are being offered in single colors. Starting hellebores by seed can be difficult, but out in nature these plant seeds grow prolifically. Zones US, MS, LS; USDA 6-8. 4. Patricia, Great to have this new information that hellebores thrive in zone 9. Keep the soil moist and you should see germination in either the fall or the following spring. However, if they sit too long outside of soil, they develop a hard coating and go dormant. How to Divide a Hellebore. They also complement foundation plantings and are ideal for woodland gardens. They bloom when the temperature is below freezing, even amidst the snow. Bloom Time: Early spring Flower Form: Cup-shaped, 5-petaled, borne in terminal … If your soil is acidic, consider adding lime, as hellebores prefer neutral or even acidic conditions. These are the hardiest as well, reportedly growing in zone 3. You may need to adjust the time you chill them. The Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) can bloom in December in zone 7 or warmer but rarely blooms until spring in colder climates. I’ve read that much is being done to come out with new ones in the near future. Hellebore, Wedding Party Dark and Handsome. (Helleborus foetidus and Helleborus argutifolius do not divide well and are best started from seed.). Make sure each division has at least 2 buds. Type Flowering perennial Lifespan 2+ years USDA Zones 5-9 Light Dappled shade Water Moist soil When to Plant Early spring There are many wonderful hellebore varieties, often sold in a mix of colors. Protect from cold winter winds, especially when not insulated by snow, to avoid damaged foliage. Botanical Name: Helleborus orientalis 'Double Form' Height: 12 - 15 inches Ship As: NO. Late winter blooms of raspberry mauve flowers. Blooming heavily for weeks from late winter to early spring, these charming and dainty beauties rise on sturdy, thick stems above the … Its pink flower buds … If you have a mild climate (USDA zones 5 to 6 or 0 to -20 degrees minimum), or a protected location, you may wish to try some of the newer hybrids. Also of value is their shade tolerance. Exceptionally pretty, Helleborus x hybridus 'Party Dress Pink' (Hellebore) features large (2-3 in. A peat-based soil with decomposed bark works best. In colder climates, protect hellebores from harsh winter winds. Lookup. Reply. Zone This refers to the USDA hardiness zone assigned to each part of the country, based on the minimum winter temperature that a region typically experiences. With hybridizing, more colors are becoming available. My personal preference in USDA Hardiness Zone 6 is to take my chances with early fall division, when the plants are sturdier and the weather is more predictable. Stored hellebore seeds need to be stratified before planting. From Greece, Turkey, Caucasus. The vigorous and hardy Lenten Rose blooms in the winter and early spring garden before other plants awaken. Hellebore plants are among the earliest perennial flowers to bloom, welcoming spring with their rose-like blossoms. Shade plants at 30% in the summer months to prevent overheating and/or burning of foliage. Hellebore foliage forms a low clump with leaves that are lobed and often pedate. One of the toughest perennials you can put in your garden, Hellebores are capable of withstanding drought, grazing rabbits and deer, and will outlive your house. This intriguing color is unusual among spring bloomers. Since what we grow are hellebore plants, that's often what I plant. 5. ) We get emails several times a week asking if we are still shipping, or if it is too late to plant hellebores. Features large, cup-shaped, rose-like, usually nodding flowers (3-4" diameter) with center crowns of conspicuously contrasting yellow stamens. Hellebore flowers, with more than 20 species—evergreen or herbaceous—brighten a late winter garden and will come back next year too. Hellebores need a well-drained, coarse soil with lots of aeration. Sow them and keep the pots at about 70 degrees for six weeks. Merlin Hellebore. Classic Hellebore shape. ... Hellebores seldom need dividing and … There are several forum-goers growing beautiful hellebores in zone 5...and some in zone 4 as well. In colder zones, hellebores will break through the frozen ground early in the spring. It grows 16 inches tall and 24 inches wide. Hellebore is an elegant perennial winter flower, which is suitable for shady areas during late winter and spring. Gentle pink with a darker pink picotee edge. A ravishment of white 2" double-flowers with attractive raspberry pink veining and picotee edge. 6. 1 BAREROOT Spacing: 15 - 18 inches Spread: 15 - 18 inches Light Requirements: Partial Shade, Full Shade Color: Mixed Foliage Type: Palm-like evergreen foliage. Special offers, discounts, and new products. Zones 5-8 Also, more double ones. In most cases, though, it can take 3 to 5 years to get a blooming specimen from seed, which is why most gardeners purchase a mature plant that is already blooming. Bloom Time: Late winter to mid spring. Much like Helleborus niger in growth but more tolerant of warm-winter climates. Some of its species are grown as striking evergreen … Another popular species is H. foetidus, or stinking hellebore. Most species can be counted on to bloom somewhere between December and April and stay in bloom for a month or longer. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Hellebores begin blooming in mid-winter in a range of colors, adding much needed color very early in the season. Hellebore seed is available, but it will be a mix of colors. Please turn it on so that you can experience the full capabilities of this site. Hi Carolyn, I’ve just discovered your blog and know it will be fun to return often. Achillea Agapanthus Agastaches Alliums Alstroemeria Amsonia Anemone ... Hellebore Plants. Hellebore seeds don't remain viable very long. As the leave begin to fall and the soil has cooled enough to feel good on my fingers I find those fingers itching to plant. They contain sap that may cause skin reactions in sensitive people. This can take a day or two. wide, 5-8 cm), fully double, ruffled and frilled, pink blossoms that resemble a girl's fancy dress. If you want to make it even easier on you and the transplants, collect the seed pods and let them fully ripen and dry. Photo by: Ngoc Minh Ngo. Shady Gardener Says: April 16, 2011 at 12:31 am.