Helleborus

Helleborus is a group of very beautiful and interesting, evergreen or deciduous (leaf-losing) perennials that are native to southern Europe and Asia. These plants belong to the Buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. They grow upright from 12 to 18 inches high. These plants have several common names such as Hellebore, Christmas Rose, and Lenten Rose. H. purpurascens has deciduous, dark green leaves that are divided into 2 to 6, lance-shaped segments. In early spring, clusters of large, nodding, cup-shaped flowers are produced. They are deep violet-purple to maroon outside, sometimes shaded with green inside. H. cyclophyllus has bright green, palmate leaves divided into 5 to 9 lance-shaped leaflets. In early spring, small, swaying, cup-shaped flowers are borne in clusters of up to 7. They are greenish-yellow with noticeable cream-colored stamens. H. niger variety Potter's Wheel has dark green leaves and stunning white flowers with a green center, in the winter and early spring. H. orientalis subspecies Guttatus has light to dark green foliage and nodding flowers in clusters of 4 to 6 in late winter and early spring. They are white- or cream-colored with reddish-purple speckles covering the center of the petals. H. orientalis variety pink has green leaves and drooping, cup-shaped flowers in late winter and early spring. They are pink, sometimes spotted with a darker shade. Other types will be mentioned below in the varieties section.

Pot Cultivation

These plants should be grown in deep, fertile, moist soil that is well drained and preferably alkaline, in sun or partial shade. They should be provided with shelter from cold wind. Set the plants a foot apart and mulch with equal parts of rotted manure and peat moss or leaf mold. In the spring, water with liquid fertilizer. They may also be grown in a cool greenhouse in equal parts of fibrous loam, leaf mold and rotted manure, with a bit of coarse sand added. They can be set outdoors in a shady place in the spring.

Propagation

They may be divided in the fall or seeds may be sown.