Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten rose)
As one of the earliest flowering plants of the year, hellebores
are an excellent choice for the winter flowering garden and each year new additions
are added to the range of colours, patterns and delicate markings of this popular
plant. Although their ideal growing conditions are heavy, neutral to alkaline soil
in dappled shade they will tolerate anything but very poorly drained or dry soils.
All hellebores need shelter from strong, cold winds.
One of the most effective ways of using hellebores
is as a partner for spring bulbs such as Galanthus, Cyclamen coum,
Crocus tommasinianus and Scilla siberica. These can be planted
among the hellebore clumps, bringing the bulb flowers 'up close
and personal' with the hellebore blooms. Also, the bulb foliage will fade as the
hellebore thickens up its foliage for the summer and takes over
the space.
With such a range of colours available there is a wonderful choice of planting companions.
Yellow flowered varieties look good with small Narcissus such as 'Têtê-a-têtê' while
near-black selections which can be almost invisible from a distance are brought
to life by pairing with Galanthus.
Other planting companions include dark-leaved evergreen shrubs
such as Sarcocococca confusa and Daphne laureola which provide
an effective backdrop for paler cultivars. Alternatively a contrast of foliage may
be required and for this sedges, evergreen grasses and ferns are invaluable.
As they age, many hellebore flowers will become paler, greener and more veined which
provides good association with trilliums, epimediums and pulmonarias. However, once
the colour has completely drained away the seed pods should be removed from the
plant to prevent self-seeding of inferior forms and to ensure the clumps bulk up
well.
Hellebores as individual plants, deserve their popularity, but
by considering matching and contrasting colour and form with other plants, their
usefulness in the garden can be considerable enhanced.
© Sharon Brown
17th February 2008