Oriental Hellebore Info - Learn About Growing Oriental Hellebore Plants

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.

How do you care for a Helleborus plant?

Hellebore Care

Hellebores are at their best in evenly moist well-drained soil in partial shade.
Water well during extended dry periods; they are drought-tolerant once established.

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.

How do you grow hellebores?

Grow hellebores in fertile, well-drained soil at the front of a border, beneath shrubs or in pots, in sun to partial shade. Cut back the large leathery leaves when flowers and new foliage emerge and mulch plants annually with well-rotted compost or manure. Avoid transplanting hellebores after they have established.

Is hellebore poisonous to dogs?

Hellebore (Helleborus spp.), a member of the buttercup family, is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Thankfully, its foul taste often prevents them from eating it in large quantities. Even the name of the genus refers to its toxicity.

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.

Do hellebores grow well in pots?

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. ... The flowers tend to droop downward, so find an elevated position for your container grown hellebore so you can fully enjoy it.

How long do hellebore flowers last?

The Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) can bloom in December in zone 7 or warmer but rarely blooms until spring in colder climates. Most species can be counted on to bloom somewhere between December and April and stay in bloom for a month or longer.

Do Hellebores flower every year?

Hellebores are reliable and flower every year once established with little or no attention. ... Hellebores require little or no maintenance, but they do better if the old foliage is removed in late winter during January.

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.

Should hellebores be cut back after flowering?

The best time for pruning a hellebore plant is late winter or early spring, just as soon as the new growth begins to appear. This new growth should come straight up out of the ground as little stalks. These stalks should still be surrounded by a ring of last year's big leaves.

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.

How long do Hellebores take to grow?

Really strong plants may flower the following spring, just over one year from germination, but it is much more likely that they will require two whole growing seasons or even three before flowers are seen.

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.

What animal eats hellebores?

Slugs can eat holes in hellebore leaves. Pick these hellebore plant pests off at night. Alternatively, attract them with bait traps using beer or cornmeal. Vine weevils are also bugs that eat hellebores.

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.

When should I buy hellebores?

You can buy flowering plants ready for planting from late autumn in 9cm (3½in) or larger containers. It is best to avoid planting during the dry summer months.

Can you plant hellebores in spring?

A beautiful way to add color to your garden in winter and early spring is to plant hellebores. ... While a daily blast of afternoon sun in late summer and fall may scorch their leaves, they will still bloom beautifully in the spring. An added bonus is that hellebores are deer-resistant and do not freeze in cold winters.

How tall do hellebores get?

Hellebore

genus name	Helleborus
light	Part Sun Shade Sun
plant type	Perennial
height	1 to 3 feet 3 to 8 feet
width	1-3 feet wide

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.