Liven Up Your Winter Garden With Hellebores

Hellebores, also commonly referred to as Lenten Roses, are among the few perennial flowers to shine from late fall through early spring. Some varieties, like the Mont Blanc Christmas Rose, bloom from late fall through the early winter months. While other varieties, like Helleborus foetidus, flower from late winter through early spring.

There is a wide range of these winter jewels to choose from. Hellebore flowers offer shades of red, pink, white, purple, green, and combinations of these colors to the garden. Years ago, it was not easy to enjoy these flowers, due to them being downward facing. However, newer species of Hellebores, such as Pink Frost, are being bred with upward-facing blooms for maximum enjoyment.

Besides the striking blooms they produce, while most other plants are dormant, another great feature about these plants is that they are deer-resistant. Not only will they produce wonderful colors for your garden, but you also don’t have to worry about them being chewed up by woodland creatures.

Planting Hellebores: When choosing the best spot for your Hellebores, first consider what type of lighting they will receive. These perennials prefer an area with some shade, but they can tolerate areas with more sun as long as they are well watered.

Once you have picked your spot and planted your flowers, make sure to give them a good deep soaking and water regularly until established.

Add a layer of mulch around your plants, leaving a couple of inches of space between the base of the plant and where the mulch begins. This will help prevent weeds, increase water retention, and provide some temperature protection to your plants.

Watering: Fortunately, established Hellebores will let you know when they need watering. Once they become too dry, their leaves will begin to wilt. That is the time that they need a good watering. On average, established Hellebores require one inch of water per week.

For potted Hellebores, water once the top inch of soil feels dry. During warmer seasons, this is about once a week, and during cooler seasons consider watering less often.

Fertilizing: To get the most blooms out of your Hellebores, consider fertilizing annually with a slow-release fertilizer. They can either be fertilized in late fall before their blooms start or in late spring once they are finished blooming. A balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer tends to work well for these flowering plants.

Upkeep: Remove any dead leaves or flowers to encourage new growth.

If you are new to the world of shade gardening and are looking for additional plants to wow your landscape from late fall through early spring, we also recommend checking out the following shade perennials to pair with your Hellebores:

• Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)
• Creeping Phlox (Phlox sublata)
• Sedge (Carex)
• Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra)
• Columbine (Aquilegia)
• Lungwort (Pulmonaria)
• Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera)
• Dead Nettle (Lamium)
• Foam Flower (Tiarella)

Visit us today to check out all of the varieties that we have available and speak with our experts to find the best ones for your home. These easy-to-grow perennials are a must have for your garden this season!