Hellebore foliage is evergreen, forms a low clump with leaves that are lobed and palm-like, and flowers in early spring.
About
Commonly known as hellebores, the Eurasian genus Helleborus consists of approximately 20 species of herbaceous or evergreen perennial flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae. It is also known as winter rose, Christmas Rose or Lenten Rose, but it is not related to the rose family. Hellebores are related to delphinium and anemone.
The scientific name, Helleborus, comes from the Ancient Greek word hellegoros, the common name for H. orientalis, from Greek helien, which mean "to injure" and bora which means "food".
Hellebore foliage is evergreen and forms a low clump with leaves that are lobed and palm-like. The flowers resemble roses in shape. Flower stems shoot up above the foliage but nod under the weight of the flowers, which tend to bloom face down. The plant is long blooming, with flowers that are mostly in creamy shades of white, tinged with green or pink, tending to change or deepen as they age.
Gardener Tips for Planting Hellebore/Lenten Rose
Hellebores mature to 1-2 feet tall. They like part shade to full shade. Soil should be moist and rich with a soil pH of 7.0 to 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline). Flowers can be white, pink, purple or yellow. They grow well in zones 3-9. We are 5b and they grow well here in NW PA. Hellebores will cross pollinate and seed well. Bees are attracted to hellebores for their rich nectar. It works well in our Demonstration Garden, especially in the shady areas of the garden. The blooms come out about the same time as the tulips and daffodils and adds another color dimension to the garden.
Hellebore plants are among the earliest perennial flowers to bloom in the spring. In warmer areas, hellebores can bloom outdoors at Christmastime. In colder zones, hellebores will break through the frozen ground early in the spring. Their foliage remains attractive into the summer, so they are suitable for splashy, mass plantings. They also complement foundation plantings and are ideal for woodland gardens. Hellebore seeds generally go into the ground at the end of summer. You can harvest seeds to start them indoors. They do well in containers and in borders. Seedlings should be transplanted in the spring either into pots or a new garden bed.
The Unsuspecting Truth of this Species
They are native to Turkey. Some varieties of hellebore are toxic. They have been in folklore for centuries and were used by the ancient Greeks as a poison.
Written By: Penn State Extension Master Gardener Kris Whitaker
