One of my all-time favorite plants is the Hellebore, a magnificent evergreen perennial that goes back for millennia in gardens across the globe. These plants thrive in our climate and should be utilized in every landscape without question. They make wonderful specimens in gardens with afternoon shade and well-drained soil, growing nicely in even dry shade under established trees. Over time, Hellebores of all kinds slowly mature into tidy clumps, with most staying under two feet tall and all producing striking flowers over the winter to early spring season.
Hellebores were extremely popular in the days of the ancient Greeks, continuing on through the Romans and into the Middle Ages. This plant was coined by the Greeks “Helleboros”, a term meaning “to injure” and “food.” Various myths about these plants have persisted throughout the last 3000+ years, as Hellebores were thought to possess medicinal properties, curing ailments of all kinds including madness. The English strangely believed sprinkling Hellebore powder where you walked produced invisibility somehow. In reality, Hellebores served as a poison in ancient times, as the root system is very toxic. Ingestion can cause cardiac arrest and even death. Hellebore tea anyone? I hope not!
Although there are more than twenty species native to Europe and Asia, the countless hybrids and cultivars bred from these species are what most modern gardeners now grow. They are often referred to as the “Christmas Rose” or “Lenten Rose”, due to their propensity to bloom over the holiday season into early spring, offering us supreme winter flower power. Individual flowers last for months, aging until they are often a limey green. Most produce copious amounts of seed, and if you allow the flowers to mature into summer they will drop and self-sow, leading to seedlings that can be captured later and transplanted. Older specimens really don’t like to be moved or divided, so be careful if this is a route you are considering.
Although I can remember my mother having Hellebores here and there as a child, my first one was purchased at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle, circa 1990. A famous local plantsman, Mr. Dan Hinkley, was peddling his Hellebore treasures to plant addicts like me. Somehow the young and mostly broke version of myself found a way to spend $25 for a solitary 4-inch pot of the original double-flowered variety. Say what? I think they are half that price now! That plant is more about memories to me now; shopping with my mother that day, on Valentine’s Day no less, and yes, I still have it in my garden after all these years.
Modern Hellebore flavors are vastly different than the specimen I perhaps paid too much for all those years ago. Breeding has produced a myriad of flower color options, both single and double, and exquisite foliage with variegation on some. A major improvement is the flower itself, as they really do face out or up better than the old nodding blooms that were simply hard to see. Modern flavors are more floriferous and add better foliage interest, thus making great garden statements both in-ground and in containers.
Why mention them now? The answer to me is twofold. The simple reason is of course because this is their season to shine, giving us gardeners a hardy flowering plant option to enjoy during the grey days of a PNW winter. More importantly, to me it is a great time to maintain them as well, getting some “spring” work done early. The two main concerns I hear from patrons with Hellebores in our area are issues with bugs and blackening of leaves/stems/flowers (disease) - both of which are easy enough to solve.
Insects: Little sugar sucking creatures, like aphids and whiteflies, can find your Hellebores, and love to spend their time camping out and reproducing on the bottom-side of those luscious, thick leaves. Can you blame them? It’s the perfect winter hideout, if you ask me. Simple organic sprays like Neem Oil or Insecticidal Soap work nicely, but be sure to thoroughly coat the undersides of all of the leaves, then re-apply to curb your infestation. If you want to make your life simpler, just cut off all your foliage at the crown (bugs or no bugs) and yard waste them like I do every year. By removing the old leaves, you will see the flowers emerge and be able to enjoy them unobstructed by foliage. This practice essentially allows your Hellebores to start anew each year. A fresh batch of leaves will soon emerge after the flowers, bug-free and ready to go for the coming season. (This is NOT a trick for all of the species, this is a practice for hybrids of H. orientalis and H. niger, which covers the vast majority of what home gardeners plant.)
Diseases: In our wet climate, disease is always of more concern to me (with all plants), but doing a preemptive trim job removes bad foliage and opens up the crown for better light and air circulation during our wet season. Leaves may become spotted or streaked with black areas each spring, which is referred to as Leaf Spot. Applying a fungicide is an option and may be necessary with plants that have been infected for some time. A form of Copper fungicide or the old Daconil (a non-systemic chemical fungicide) both work well. My advice would be to remove all the foliage and debris, spray the crown once and walk away. Once new foliage has emerged, those leaves can be sprayed again to both protect them and break the cycle. Keep in mind that if a plant becomes diseased or stressed, it may be something cultural. Cleaning debris away from the crowns in the fall maximizes light and airflow. Avoiding deep dark shady locations and making sure they are high and dry (not drowning in heavier clay soil) are also keys.
With these or any other potential questions, always be sure to take a sample or a picture down to your local garden center and speak with a Certified Professional Horticulturist, allowing them to make a proper diagnosis to help you get your plant back to optimal health. This is also the perfect time to view Hellebores of all kinds in bloom at local garden centers, as selection is at its peak in winter to early spring. Grab one to add some pop to a winter container, or a few to plant in mass in the landscape for needed winter interest. There is always room to tuck more Hellebores into any garden, adding plants that will greet you in the winter with cheery flowers and endure with lovely foliage all season long.
