how to care for helleborus plant

Hellebore care tips:

The leathery foliage of hellebore flowers looks best when sheared in late winter just before new growth emerges.
An annual application of manure or compost will help to boost the growth of your hellebores.
Provide plenty of water during spring and fall when they are actively growing.

Do you cut back hellebores after flowering?

As soon as the new growth appears, these old leaves can be cut away, slicing them right at the base. If your old foliage is undamaged and still looks good, it's not necessary to prune them right away, but once the new grow starts to leaf out, you'll want to make way for them by removing the old growth.

Do hellebores need sun or shade?

Hellebores are hardy in Zones 6 to 9. They tolerate almost full sun to almost full shade but prefer partial shade. Dense shade may reduce flower production. Generally, they enjoy slightly neutral to acidic soils.

Should you prune hellebores?

Hellebores require little or no maintenance, but they do better if the old foliage is removed in late winter during January. Removal of most or all of the foliage serves several purposes. First, it displays the flowers at their best, leaving just the new young foliage coming through.

How do you look after hellebores in pots?

You can keep it potted until you're ready to put it in the ground outside, or you can keep it potted and enjoy it indoors and out, year round. Hellebore needs rich and well-drained soil, so be sure to choose a pot that drains and use a rich organic potting soil or add compost to existing soil.

Why are hellebores so expensive?

Hybrid hellebores are expensive to purchase (about $17 for a one-gallon pot) because it takes three to five years for them to bloom, and growers generally only sell blooming plants. ... Unlike other perennials, hellebores are long-lived plants that do not need to be divided to remain vigorous.

What do you feed hellebores?

Feeding hellebores

They are greedy feeders so give them a yearly feed in September with a slow-release fertiliser (such as Vitax Q4 ) or surround with well-rotted manure.

Do hellebores bloom all summer?

Hellebores have a usual bloom time (winter and spring), but they can sometimes be found for sale, in full bloom, during the summer. This means that the plants have been forced to bloom out of their usual schedule, and they aren't likely to bloom again in the winter.

Where is the best place to plant hellebores?

PLANTING & CARING FOR HELLEBORES

Tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions, hybrid hellebores perform best when sited in partial shade in rich, moist, but well-draining soil. Hellebores are quite easy to grow, and since they are perennials, will continue to bloom for a number of years.

Why do hellebore leaves turn brown?

Hellebore leaf spot is a common fungal disease of many hellebore species. It infects leaves and stems giving rise to roundish, dead, brown spots.

What is the best fertilizer for hellebores?

Do not fertilize hellebores, but top-dress them with compost once a year. In cold regions, provide a winter mulch, which should be pulled back before they bloom. The old or damaged foliage of evergreen hellebores can be cut away in early winter.

Are hellebores invasive?

The hellebore is a small evergreen perennial that blooms during the winter months and into spring, usually starting as early as late January. The clumps expand slowly by rhizomatous roots but are not invasive.

Do hellebores multiply?

A hellebore will yield from two to as many as 10 divided plants. You should plant the divided plants immediately, making sure the roots do not dry out. Plant them in well- prepared soil with good drainage. ... Firm the soil around the plant and water to avoid air pockets around the roots.

Why is my hellebore turning yellow?

Every year as the plants begin to put on new foliage they can undergo a transient nutrient deficiency which is displayed as yellowing of the leaves. ... This is not to be confused with the yellow foliage on the yellow flowering plants like the O'Byrne's Helleborus x hybridus Golden Lotus or Golden Sunrise strain.

Why are my hellebore drooping?

Hellebore plants are 1 1/2 to 2 feet tall so the flowers are close to the ground drooping down on a 45 degree angle for an extended bloom cycle. Flowers droop as a survival mechanism to snow, sleet and rain. The weather in winter and early spring is not conducive to pollination by insects.

Do slugs like hellebores?

However I will recommend the evergreen hellebores such as Helleborus x ericsmithii and Helleborus argutifolius. These have tough foliage and tough flowers carried above the foliage in large clusters. These seem to be unpalatable to molluscs and they are carried well out of harm's way.

Are hellebores poisonous to dogs?

The majority won't cause much more than an upset stomach, and most dogs won't eat plants that are poisonous to them. Most toxic garden plants, such as granny's bonnet, bluebells and hellebores, need to be eaten in such huge quantities to cause harm, that they're very unlikely to do so.

Can hellebores be transplanted?

Division. Hellebores are typically long-lived plants. ... They do not usually need to be divided for the health of the plant, but if you wish to transplant or divide a hellebore, that is best done in September or October.

Do hellebores like full sun?

Hellebores are easy to grow and are undemanding. ... Hellebores are typically woodland edge plants. They thrive in rich, moisture-retentive soil but struggle in boggy and wet conditions. Most will tolerate full sun to almost full shade.

Should I fertilize hellebores?

Plant hellebores in spring or early fall. Work an organic-rich fertilizer into the loosened soil at planting, water well, then cover the ground with 2 inches of weed-smothering mulch. Fertilize each spring and early fall to encourage best bloom.

How tall do hellebores get?

Hellebore

genus name	Helleborus
plant type	Perennial
height	1 to 3 feet 3 to 8 feet
width	1-3 feet wide
flower color	Green White Pink