Hellebores are truly one of spring’s most gorgeous blooms. The Gabriola garden is already flourishing, and the hellebores planted in seasons past are boasting tons of speckled pink and soft white flowers. Hellebores are perfect for the shady cover and well-drained soil of what we’ve dubbed the secret garden, a circular garden, surrounded by shrubs, flowers, and larger foliage, with a grassy lounging area in the middle that will, hopefully, become home to a whimsical outdoor daybed or Practical Magical inspired table for intimate garden parties and outdoor writing projects this summer.
Despite being known as winter roses, Christmas roses, and Lenten roses, hellebores are actually a part of the buttercup family. They’re an easy-to-grow perennial that requires little maintenance and flourishes in the shade.
Come February, simply remove old, tattered foliage to make way for new blooms, add a layer of rich organic matter around your plants, and your hellebores will be set for spring. Although they usually take a couple of years to flower when grown from seed, once established, these perennials will bring new flowers in late winter and early spring for years to come.
A note on harvesting:
Wait until flowers have dropped their stamens before cutting. In the photo above, the flower at the top still has its stamen and is not ready to be cut. The bloom below it has lost its stamen and is ready to be harvested. Although not as aesthetically pleasing without the stamen, your hellebores will last longer in arrangements.
Happy growing!