As the garden prepares for hibernation, the hellebores come to life. These frost-resistant plants bloom, depending on the variety, from November to April. For this reason, in some publications they are called "winter roses".
Stand and ground for hellebores
My hellebores have a permanent place under the cherry plum and tamarisk, whose branches reaching the ground protect them from the wind. At the same time, the shrub devoid of leaves allows sunlight to pass through without any problems. This is why I advise you to plant hellebores under deciduous trees and shrubs, and not among conifers.This position is also supported by the fact that these perennials like calcareous soil,and conifers are usually acidic. I am writing about it because a wandering in the garden is not good for them. Roots susceptible to mechanical damage do not tolerate transplanting well, which causes a delay in flowering. In addition to the fertile soil, limestone hellebores also tolerate slightly loamy but permeable soil. They will be grateful for drainage, humus or compost.
Watering and feeding hellebores
Hellebores need some moisture in the summer to make a lot of flower buds. Drought is not in their favor. Therefore, in rainless periods, they should be watered systematically. Once a year, I feed my favorites with Azofoska, and in the fall I spread compost or granulated manure around them.
Recommended varieties of stickleback
The most widespread species grown in our gardens iswhite helleboreHelleborus niger. It has snow-white flowers and black roots.It blooms depending on the aura - from late autumn until April.eastern helleboreHelleborus orientalis blooms in very early spring. Its flowers come in various shades of pink and white. They grow directly from the root stump on shoots. Light green flowersfoul helleborusHelleborus foetidus develop from February to June, grow up to 0.5 m in height and are decorative until the seeds ripen. This species owes its name to its spicy-smelling roots. Another interesting item in my collection isCorsican helleboreHelleborus argutifolius. Its unique yellow-green flowers appear from February to April. As in the smelly hellebore, they are located at the ends of leafy shoots.
Breeding hellebores
The best way to breed hellebores is to divide large carp. May and June are good dates - right after flowering. New plants should have 3-5 leaflets and must be provided with a constantly moist soil.Hellebores can also be obtained from seed, but then there is no guarantee that they will repeat the characteristics of the mother plant. Seeds collected in May or June should be sown immediately, because they quickly lose their germination. We will have to wait longer for flowers than when multiplying by division, even up to 3 years. Although hellebores are not afraid of low temperatures, heavy frost, especially in snowless winter, can damage leaves and flower shoots. In such a situation, provide them with appropriate cover.
Anna Witkowska
Hellebore care
If the hellebores grow in shadowy positions, it is good to tear some old leaves when the buds appear. In this way, we allow sunlight to enter the flowers. But be careful! All maintenance work should be carried out with gloves, as all parts of these plants are poisonous and can irritate the skin of the hands.
