Ciemiernik (Helleborus) is a frost-resistant perennial belonging to the family Jaskrowatych (Ranunculaceae). What distinguishes hellebores and makes them very attractive is the unusual winter flowering date. The most famous of the winter flowering hellebore is thewhite hellebore , also known as the Christmas Rose. Under the namegarden hellebore , the hybrid forms of hellebore obtained by breeders are concentrated. See what thecultivation of helleborelooks like and what other species andvarieties of helleboreare suitable for garden cultivation.
The white hellebore (Helleborus niger) is the most commonly cultivated winter flowering hellebore
Helleboresenliven the garden with the unusual colors of their flowers from mid-winter until spring. Strong, upright stems grow white, cup-shaped or saucer-shaped flowers, tinted with green or purple. The leaves are divided into 3 to 7 or more oval or lanceolate leaflets 10 to 20 cm long. Hellebores are most effective when planted in groups between shrubs or under trees. They are perfect for naturalistic plantings. The smallerspecies of helleboremay find a place on the rockery. They can also be grown in containers on terraces and balconies, and rushed to decorate apartments in winter.
Warning!All parts of the hellebores are poisonous. Although the compounds contained in them are used in the production of drugs, direct consumption of plants may cause poisoning.Their juice can also cause unpleasant blistering effects on the skin. Therefore, always use gloves to maintain the hellebore maintenance work.
Hellebore garden - cultivation
Undergrowing hellebore in the gardenchoose a warm, quiet place, sheltered from drying winter winds. The stand must be slightly shaded or shaded. It will be perfect surrounded by bushes or under trees.
The soil should be fertile, loamy, calcareous. It is necessary to maintain a constant, moderate soil moisture.
Provide the plants with compound fertilizer once a year or in autumn place a layer of well-composted manure around them.
The special procedures performed inof hellebore cultivationinclude the removal of the oldest leaves just before the flowering time to allow the emerging flowers to have better access to sunlight.
Note!Hellebore does not tolerate transplanting well, it needs a long period of time to acclimatize to a new place.
Breeding hellebore
Maintaining the characteristics ofof garden varieties of helleboreis possible only during vegetative reproduction, i.e. by dividing carp. We can also reproduce species from seeds.
Hellebore reproduction by division : divide the most developed carp in May (right after flowering) or in the period from August to September (when the young leaves are already large and dark green). From one clump you can get only 2 or 3 daughter plants. Each cut must have at least 2 or 3 buds and 3 to 5 leaves. First, plant the obtained plants in containers, and only after a year, put them in a permanent place (they will probably bloom next winter). In the cultivation of young plants, it is particularly important to maintain a constant soil moisture.
Seed hellebore propagation : seeds are harvested from May to June. Sow them immediately after harvesting in pots in a sheltered garden spot or directly into the ground.The seedlings will not appear until the next spring (after about 9 to 10 months). They will bloom for the first time no sooner than 3 years after sowing.
Hellebore - garden species and varieties
Helleborus white Helleborus niger
It is the most accessible and most commonly cultivated species in our country. It grows up to 30 cm in height. It is an evergreen plant with large leathery leaves. Why white, if there is niger in the Latin name, meaning black? Well, the roots of this plant are dark. The flowers are white or slightly pink and therefore, to distinguish them from other varieties of hellebore, the Polish name is not a literal translation from Latin. As a rule, flowers appear in early spring and remain on the plant until April, and sometimes even until May. It is the white hellebore that is called the Christmas Rose. Most often, only in this variety it happens that it develops its first flowers even in late autumn or winter.Provided, of course, only when there are no severe frosts and the days are sunny enough. This species requires permeable humus soils. It grows poorly in heavy, moist soil, and does not tolerate root damage, so it should not be transplanted too often.
Stink helleborus Helleborus foetidus
Evergreen species, native to south-west Europe. Its smell is irritating to people. It can reach a height of more than half a meter. The flowers, gathered in apical panicles, are spherical, bell-shaped, light green with purple edges. It blooms from February to June. There are no high requirements. It is perfect for naturalistic plantings. It is often self-seeding in semi-shaded positions.
Reddening Helleborus Helleborus atrorubens
It is a low species, not exceeding 20 cm in height. In nature, it occurs in the Balkans. Leaves and shoots are seasonal, purple in color. The purple flowers can be admired from late winter to spring.
Corsican hellebore Helleborus argutifolius
The species grows up to 50 cm in height. Yellowish-green flowers develop from February to April. Corsican hellebore grows in the sun, but they do better in partial shade in a moderately humid place. Like other species, they like humus, permeable and calcareous soil. Although they are resistant to low temperatures, they are sensitive to frosty, drying winds. Therefore, for winter, especially without snow, it is better to cover them with a thin layer of spruce twigs. In mild winters, the hellebore leaves do not fall off, but remain green until spring.
Eastern Helleborus orientalis
This species grows in its natural state in Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece and the Caucasus. A plant with evergreen leaves, folded palm, up to 45 cm in diameter, grows to over 50 cm in height. Flowers, 7 cm in diameter, hanging in buds, then erect, are light pink, red or white in shades.Depending on the weather conditions, it blooms in early spring or even in winter.
