According to Elizabethan folklore, a Hellebore had the power to repel witches and evil spirits, so it was often planted near doorways. Alternatively, it was gathered after dark on Midsummer’s Eve, then dried and hung in houses and stables for protection. It is a very toxic plant, contrary to medieval belief that it had medicinal properties, so always handle with care and use gloves when planting or moving.
Hellebores provide a great show in late winter and spring.
Despite their scary past, Hellebores are easy to grow in any garden, whether in a shady border or a pot on your sunny patio. This versatility, the range of fabulous colours and inter-species hybrids makes them a firm favourite with gardeners who long for some bright spots in a sometimes-bleak winter border.
Hellebores provide a great show in late winter and spring, but they do take up a lot of space in the summer months with their large spreading leaves. It’s good idea to stand back in the springtime and check that your Hellebores haven’t taken over and consider dividing and moving any that are hogging your borders.
Dividing Hellebores can be done just after flowering and as they have lots of thick fibrous roots, I put two forks in the crown of the plant to gently tease them apart. When dividing, make sure you have some new leaves coming up from each section. Be careful not to damage these new leaves. Try and get your newly divided Hellebores back into the ground in a bare area of your garden as soon as possible or you could pot them up and gift them to friends and family. A lovely way to share a bit of Hellebore magic!
Another top tip is to remove excess leaves from your Hellebores in the winter as not only does this show off their beautiful flowers but is also reduces the risk of black spot from damp winter foliage. Hellebores also make attractive cut flowers at a time when little else is out in a winter garden. I remember my mother and grandmother both cutting Helleborus Niger from their gardens at Christmas and arranging a table centre with sprigs of Holly from the hedgerow. They looked like little stars on the table and for me will always be ‘Christmas roses’ - a sign of light in the winter darkness.
I currently have a couple of varieties of Hellebore in my garden but there are many to choose from:
- Helleborus niger is semi-evergreen with dark leathery leaves and pure white or pink-flushed white flowers. Likes east, north or west facing aspect in a sheltered position in partial shade. Plant in moist but well drained soil.
- Helleborus x ericsmithii HGC Shooting Star semi-evergreen with dark green leaves and silvery veins. Creamy-white flowers with pink reverses – pink and green tinges develop as the flower ages. Will tolerate all growing aspects including south facing.
- Helleborus viridis is a native British Hellebore with apple-green flowers and yellow stamens through out March and April. This variety brings a fresh feeling to shady areas of the garden and will thrive in partially shaded corners of your garden
- Helleborus x hybridus Golden Lotus is a real show stealer with double golden yellow flowers that develop a delicate pink edge as the plant matures.
- Helleborus x hybridus Double Pink Dark Spot has extravagant layers of pink spotted petals and looks best planted in groups of 3 or 5 at the front of partially shaded mixed border or under shrubs with some spring flowering bulbs.
So, there you have it. Hellebores to give you heavenly colour from winter through to spring and if you believe the folklore – to protect your home from evils spirits too!
If you would like further advice or information about Hellebores or any other garden plants, then please get in touch.
