Did someone say 'hellbore?' These prized beauties are the perfect antidote to the cold and windy weather blues.
I found only one plant blooming last week. Today there are 3 in bloom and 3 more have new buds, eager to open.
Aren't they wonderful? Also known as Lenten Roses (though they are not related to roses), hellebores are frost-resistant and most are evergreen. In my garden, they sometimes disappear in the heat of summer, but always come back reliably when the real chill of fall arrives. They are known for their drought and neglect tolerance and their exceptionally long bloom period from late winter through spring.
These are in a mostly shaded spot and I give them a periodic extra hand-watering with the hose. A few houses down, my neighbor's are beautiful and she does no supplemental watering. They are fine in dry shade but they do like decent drainage.
It's sometimes hard to see their downward-facing blooms, but they make me feel like a kid again in the garden. I find myself rushing out to check the plants for new buds and blooms, happily rewarded when I find a shy new flower hiding under the canopy of leaves.
If you've got an empty spot or two in your dry shade garden, try a few of these. Different varieties have different zones, so check closely, but they range from zones 4-9. Hellebores, a must-have for your winter/spring garden!
I had no idea that you could grow hellebores here! Yours are pretty, especially "Stained Glass." I am now very tempted to add a few to the shady bed in front of my porch. Where did you get yours?
ReplyDeleteLori - I've ordered them from: Herronswood, Burpee, and Great Garden Plants. I've lost a few along the way, I will admit, but I have a thing for them so I'm willing to keep trying. Go for it!
ReplyDeleteThose are absolute treasures.The one hellebore I have hasn't bloomed since its first year. It is under a yaupon holly tree. I keep meaning to move it. Clearly the wrong place.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty! What is the size of the plant/flower? Are they deer resistant?
ReplyDeleteRock Rose - I did have a few plants skip a year or two, but this year they all seem happy. I'm not sure what to attribute that to, but I won't give up on them. Mine get some dappled sun and a little extra water every now and then because they are close to the hose.
ReplyDeleteLaura - The sizes vary by variety, but my largest one is about a foot across. I've seen them about 18" across. They don't get much taller than a foot, at least not that I've seen. I have them planted with some ferns, columbines, heuchera and bletilla -- it's my sweet woodland spring corner of the garden.
I also have a 'Pink Frost' which is an early bloomer for me. I will post a photo of it tomorrow. Love 'Stained Glass'. Just bought a variety called 'Joker' because 'someone' mentioned it earlier on FB. (Jean)
ReplyDeleteJanet -- I just love hellebores -- they make me think I have a more eastern/midwestern garden somehow! They are so delicate, they don't seem to belong here in my garden! I'll look for your Pink Frost. I have 4 others but only 1 bud that I see so far on them.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!!!! I haven't tried them in a while. So pretty! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteKacky - I'm collecting them now. Because they bloom so early, I really focus on them and enjoy them so much when there isn't much in the garden to compete with.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful varieties of hellebores you have there. Mine are just flowering (early March) here in Hampshire England. Lovely blog, regards Simon
ReplyDeleteLifebetweentheflowers - Simon - Thanks for your kind words about my blog. Since this post I've had two more burst into bloom. I've been wanting to post about them, but it's been icy here and what we consider bitter cold, so I haven't ventured out to take photos in a while!
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