Who doesn't love a vase of freshly cut flowers? They beautifully brighten up the home, bring joy, and invite the outdoors indoors. However, it can sometimes seem like as soon as the blooms sit in your vase you're already counting down the days until they're gone.

There's a sense of beauty in the way floral bouquets are only temporary, blessing us with their gorgeous hues and scents and reminding us to enjoy the present moment. But if you're hoping to freshen yours up and make them last as long as possible, gardener Kelly Welk shared a nifty trick on her Instagram page that kept her hellebores looking lush for almost an entire month.

Here's what she did to achieve the result, as well as some insight from a plant expert on which other flowers the trick will work on.

What is the hack?

Kelly had an abundance of beautiful hellebore blooms in her garden and wanted them to last. So after collecting up the amount she wanted to include in her bouquet using a pair of pruning shears like these Felco F8 Shears from Amazon, Kelly scored three to four lines along the base of each flower's stem. Then, she dipped each hellebore's stem into a pot of hot water for a minute before placing it in her vase of cold water.

After doing this her hellebores maintained freshness for far longer than in the past, and they even shocked her with just how long they lasted in her home.

Why does it work?

Dipping the stems of hellebore in hot water before placing them into a vase makes them last longer by jolting their system.

As Angelika Zaber, a gardening and lawn expert at Online Turf with over two decades of experience, explains: "Dipping hellebore in hot water for a minute or so works as it kills any bacteria along with opening their vascular tissue, allowing them to drink up more water. As a result, they look their best for longer."

So essentially you're "waking up" the inside of the flower with a warm bath, removing any air bubbles trapped in the stem so water intake can be improved. The score lines on the stem combined with the fresh cut at the base when the hellebores were collected from the garden provides the perfect recipe for healthy drinking.

Be sure to replace the water in your vase every couple of days to ensure your hellebores continue to thrive.

Is there anything I should be careful of?

If you're trying out this hack for yourself, you need to be super careful not to leave the stems of your hellebore in the hot water for too long. Doing so will "cook" the stems, making them become wilted and unhealthy. If you've done this, you may be able to snip the cooked end off and work with the rest of the flower. Though it's best to do what you can to entirely avoid it.

Angelika notes that it's also important "not to dip more than one or two inches of the stems" in hot water". You only need to soak the very end of your long-lasting cut flowers - you don't want to weaken the integrity of the flower's stem when it needs to be able to healthily stand in your vase for weeks!

Along a similar line, it's also vital to place your soaked stems into a vase of cold water immediately after their hot water dip. This stops the "cooking" process and provides the necessary jolt for the hack to work.

What flowers are suitable for this hack?

Flowers with soft stems like tulips, daffodils, and sweet peas will instantly begin to wilt if they are dipped in hot water. So what you need for a trick like this to have benefit are flowers with hardier, woody stems. Some examples include dahlias and hydrangeas.

Hellebores are a joy in late-winter gardens, lighting up bare borders with their delicate beauty. They’re vulnerable to a fungal disease known as hellebore leaf spot at this time of the year, though, and swift action is essential to prevent its spread and save your blooms. But the good news is that this common hellebore disease is easy to identify and straightforward to deal with.

What Should I Look For?

Watch out for small, circular, black or brown spots on the leaves of your hellebores. If you take action at this stage of the fungus lifecycle, your precious plants will likely recover well. Over time, these spots enlarge and merge so, if your plant has been infected for some time, you’ll see dark patches covering portions of the leaves. This can easily be mistaken for foliage damaged by below-freezing temperatures. In severe cases, the spots spread to the stems, causing them to collapse, and infected leaves wither, yellow, and die.

How Do I Save My Hellebores?

As long as you act quickly, your hellebores should be just fine. Your first step is to remove all leaves and stems with black or brown spots. Be brutal – because this is a spreading fungal disease, it’s better to over-prune a plant than leave any infected material behind.

Some hellebore species, such as Helleborus niger, grow leaves and flowers on the same stems, so simply remove any infected leaves. Others, like Helleborus x hybridus, carry their flowers on separate stems to the leaves, so you can safely remove the entire foliage stem.

Hellebore sap is a skin irritant and is toxic if ingested, so always wear waterproof gloves such as these Cooljob Gloves from Amazon whenever cutting or handling these plants.

How Do I Stop the Disease Spreading?

The fungal spores of Microsphaeropsis hellebori can survive on the removed leaves and re-infect plants, so bag your prunings and dispose of them in your household waste. Whatever you do, don’t compost them! If you used hand pruners to remove the infected parts, disinfect them thoroughly – any household disinfectant will do the trick, or use a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water.

Can I Protect My Plants Long-Term?

The trick to preventing hellebore leaf spot is to understand that it’s a fungal disease. Fungal spores are highly resilient and can lie dormant for years until favorable conditions allow them to germinate. But don't worry: stopping them from infecting your plants is simple if you follow this fail-safe 5-step plan, and now's the perfect time to start.

1. Prune Harshly

Your first line of prevention should be good plant hygiene. Most hellebores are semi-evergreen, so regularly check the foliage year-round, and remove all dead or damaged leaves. Then, when flowerbuds first emerge in winter, prune your hellebores, snipping off last year’s leathery leaves to get rid of potentially infected foliage. This also encourages fresh growth of healthy new leaves, and helps to show the flowers off.
Be sure to bag up your prunings and dispose of them in your household waste, just in case.

2. Mulch Generously

Once you're done pruning, apply a thin layer of mulch, being careful to keep the organic matter away from the crowns. Hellebores are naturally woodland-edge plants, so use leaf mold or any wood-based mulch such as this Organic Aspen Mulch from Amazon. As well as providing your plants with nutrients, mulching will help keep the environment around your plants healthy. It will also stop rain-splash transferring spores in the soil onto lower leaves.

If any of your plants were infected last year, it’s good practice to scrape away the surface of the soil before mulching – a trowel with a serrated edge, such as a Sumio Weeding Trowel from Amazon, makes it easy.

3. Improve Airflow

Fungal diseases need damp conditions to flourish, so take steps to ensure good airflow around your hellebores. Most hellebores readily self-seed, which can lead to congestion or the seedlings smothering the mother plant. Pull out any unwanted plants – while mature hellebores hate to be moved, any seedlings can be rehomed to another spot in your border. In the future, if you don’t want your hellebores to self-seed, simply snip off faded flower stems before seedpods form.

4. Water Carefully

Once established, hellebores don't need watering in winter unless there's a prolonged dry spell. They don't like their roots to be waterlogged, and that mulch layer will retain soil moisture. Over-watering will weaken your plants and encourage the damp conditions that leaf spot loves. If you do need to irrigate, be sure to aim water at the soil rather than dousing the plant: a can with a long spout and down-angled rose, such as this 2-Gallon Can from Amazon, makes it simple.

5. Grow Considerately

Healthy plants are more resistant to disease, so make sure you’re giving your hellebores the conditions they need to thrive, especially if you're growing them in a container, when they’re more reliant on you to meet their needs.

What if My Plant Is Heavily Infected?

If Microsphaeropsis hellebori spores have taken a firm hold of your hellebores, use a copper-based fungicide such as Bonide Captain Jack’s Copper Fungicide from Amazon.

Be careful not to mistake hellebore black death, which is as deadly as it sounds, for a severe infection of Black Spot. Black death is a far more serious condition caused by the virus Helleborus net necrosis virus, but is easily recognized as plants become stunted and have black streaks or netting patterns on their leaves, rather than spots or patches.

Are Some Varieties More Resistant?

Many newer hellebore cultivars have been bred to be more resistant to disease, including leaf spot. The attractive FrostKiss hybrids have marbled foliage, which is often more resilient, and come in a range of fabulous tones.

Hellebore is a woodland perennial that is known for its attractive evergreen foliage and early bloom season. Its more common name, Lenten rose, was so attributed in regard to its flowering period which often occurs during the religious observance of Lent. This plant’s beauty in addition to its ease of growth, make it an ideal outdoor container plant and species for growing indoors during the winter months. 

Learning more about Lenten rose care and requirements for indoor hellebore growth will reward gardeners with masses of long-lived blooms.

Growing Indoor Hellebores

Reaching just 20 inches (50 cm.) tall at maturity, Lenten roses produce flourishes of large blooms. Ranging in color, growers can expect intricately patterned flowers in shades of green, white, pink, and purple. Though each flower delicately nods downwards, their bright bursts of color are a welcome sign that spring is on the way. 

For well-established plants, the Lenten rose bloom season occurs in late winter to early spring. In many cases, the plants may even begin to flower while there is still snow on the ground. Growing Lenten rose in winter indoors will often produce the same results. However, there will need to be some consideration taken in regard to specific Lenten rose care. 

Special Indoor Needs

Ornamental gardeners are likely to find plant starts of Lenten rose in winter at reputable nurseries. Hellebore care indoors requires special attention to temperature, moisture, and light. Since the flowers thrive under cool conditions, indoor gardeners should place pots away from potential heat sources like vents or space heaters. Yellowing foliage may be among the first signs that conditions are too warm and plants should be moved. 

While hellebore plants require consistent moisture, you should make certain that their containers drain well, as root rot may become an issue. Indoor hellebore plants will grow best when situated near a window that receives bright, yet indirect, sunlight. 

As spring arrives, most experts suggest that hellebore plants be hardened off and moved outdoors. Hardy specimens can be planted directly into the garden when the time is right. Even with the best of care, most Lenten roses will not survive full-time indoor culture. 

For many ornamental gardeners, winter blooming plants can offer a much needed burst of color in an otherwise barren cool season landscape. Winter blooming types of plants are often hard to come by, especially for those living in regions that experience frequent frosts. Plants like the Christmas rose hellebore (Helleborus) may be a good option. Learning more about Christmas rose flowering time and growing conditions can help landscapers better determine if this plant is a good fit for flower beds and borders.

What is a Christmas Rose Plant?

Christmas rose plant is a member of the hellebore family. Like other types of hellebore, these flowers are known for their early season bloom. Christmas rose flowering time will vary greatly depending upon one’s own climate. While the plant may burst into bloom near the holiday season in warmer climates, most will see it begin to flower in late winter or very early spring. 

Christmas rose hellebore is an evergreen plant which produces glossy foliage, even during winter. As the weather warms, it produces large masses of bright white flowers on short stems. As with many landscaping plants, it should be noted that all parts of the Christmas rose plant are toxic to both humans and pets. 

Christmas Rose Growing Conditions

Christmas rose plants prefer a garden location that is both shady and sheltered. Many growers also find that the plants are particular about soil pH, requiring a soil that’s either neutral or slightly alkaline. These Christmas rose growing conditions can be achieved through the addition of soil amendments, such as lime. Planting sites should drain well and allow for ample air circulation. 

Once it’s established, Christmas rose care is minimal. Where Christmas rose growing conditions are exceptionally harsh, their foliage may show signs of damage throughout the coldest parts of winter. You can remove damaged leaves to make way for new growth, which will resume when the time is right. Damage to leaves may also be caused by exposure to intense sunlight. 

Though they can be divided after several years of growth, most experts suggest that Christmas rose plants be left to grow undisturbed. Once established, landscapers can expect mature Christmas rose helleborus to flourish for many years to come. 

Depending upon where you live, you may be able to see one of the first flowers that are not bulbs in late winter to very early spring. That is the magnificent hellebore, a tough little plant with astounding blooms. While they perform best outdoors, you can trick a hellebore into blooming indoors too. A hellebore plant indoors can still bloom but the key is the proper temperature.

Can You Grow a Hellebore Plant Indoors?

There are plenty of colorful houseplants to enjoy during the winter months. Classic examples are the poinsettia, amaryllis, and Christmas cactus. If you are a bit bored with these varieties, however, try bringing hellebores inside. Their white to dusky rose-hued blooms provide a much-needed depth and melancholy beauty. Keeping a hellebore as a houseplant is easy but getting them to bloom requires a little trickery.

Your outdoor hellebore is an easy-to-grow plant that just needs relatively moist but well-draining soil, a partially shady to shady location, and a dose of cool weather to jump-start the blooms. Bringing hellebores inside will result in a plant of lovely foliage.

In order to bloom though, they need to experience four to six weeks of cold temperatures between 40 and 45 degrees F. (4-7 C.). Such temperatures are tough to find in the home interior. 

Finding a cool space to give them the cold period they need to produce flowers may mean placing them in the garage, basement, cold frame, or other sheltered, but cool site.

Keeping a Hellebore as a Houseplant

If you are bringing a plant in from outside, try to give it a period of time to adjust to the difference in temperature. Plant in a good potting soil in a container that has drainage holes. While the Lenten rose likes somewhat moist conditions, it will suffer if the soil is soggy.

Next, select a location where the plant gets some sunlight but is protected from the midday sun. A bit away from a northern or eastern window would be ideal. The plant will also benefit from a room that is as cool as possible. Either mist the plant regularly or place the container on a saucer of pebbles filled with water to increase the ambient humidity.

Indoor Hellebore Care

This is a relatively unfussy plant that won't take up much of your time. Keep the soil moderately moist, but allow the top to dry out in winter.

Trim off dead or damaged leaves as they occur to keep the plant looking its best. Move the plant to a cool location up to six weeks before you want it to bloom. After blooming, trim off the spent flower stems.

Feed the plant with a diluted balanced plant food in early spring and every three weeks until fall. Repot your hellebore every couple of years or when it becomes root bound. If you wish, you can move the plant outdoors in spring and bring it in again as winter approaches. Just don't forget to give it that chill time if you want indoor flowers.

If you grow hellebore, you may have noticed an interesting phenomenon. Hellebores turning green from pink or white is unique among flowers. Hellebore blossom color change is fascinating and not perfectly understood, but it certainly makes for more visual interest in the garden.

What is Hellebore?

Hellebore is a group of several species that produce early blooming flowers. Some of the common names of the species indicate when they bloom, like Lenten rose, for example. In warmer climates, you’ll get hellebore flowers in December, but colder regions see them bloom in late winter to early spring.

These perennials grow in low clumps, with the flowers shooting up above the foliage. They bloom hanging down on the tops of stems. The flowers look a little like roses and come in a range of colors that deepen change as the plant ages: white, pink, green, dark blue, and yellow.

Hellebore Changing Color

Green hellebore plants and flowers are actually in the later stages of their life cycles; they turn green as they age. While most plants start green and turn different colors, these blooms do the opposite, especially in those species with white to pink flowers.

Rest assured that your hellebore changing color is perfectly normal. The first important thing to understand about this process is that what you see turning green are actually sepals, not petals of the flower. Sepals are the leaf-like structures that grow on the outside of a flower, probably to protect the bud. In hellebores, they are known as petaloid sepals because they resemble petals. By turning green, it may be that these sepals allow the hellebore to conduct more photosynthesis.

Researchers have determined that the greening of hellebore sepals is one part of the process known as senescence, the programmed death of the flower. Studies also show that there are chemical changes that accompany the color change, specifically a decrease in the amount of small proteins and sugars and an increase in larger proteins.

Still, while the process has been explained, it is still not clear exactly why the color change occurs.

In early spring, when I am feeling particularly depressed about what seems to be a neverending Wisconsin winter, I like to frequently check on my hellebore plants. When I finally see their early blooms, sometimes peeking out through stubborn snow, I know that spring and nice weather will soon arrive and my spirits are lifted. It didn't surprise me to learn that hellebore root was once used to treat melancholy. After all, these little plants have cured my winter blues for years now. However, the very dark history of hellebores is rather surprising to those who love these early spring bloomers. Continue reading for more information on the sordid history of hellebores.

Hellebore Plant History

Hellebore plants were documented by both Dioscorides and Pliny to treat melancholy, insanity, worms and induce vomiting. Dioscorides recorded a tale of the herbalist Melampus curing the King of Argos' daughters of madness by giving them the dry, powdered root of hellebore. As the legend goes, Dionysus bespelled these girls because of a feud he had with the King of Argos. Melampus found the daughters running naked through the forests and gave them hellebore root, which cured them. Due to this myth, hellebore root was often prescribed to purge people of perverse thoughts and habits. This is one of very few positive myths about hellebore.

In fact, hellebore is a toxic plant. Its name is said to be derived from the Greek words for "to harm" and "food." Most of the mythology and legends surrounding hellebore plant history are grim and dark. One such legend states that Alexander the Great was poisoned by his own assistants with powdered hellebore root placed in his drink. Another legend states that the ancient Gauls would dip their arrowheads in hellebore powder to guarantee that their prey or enemies would die. In another grim tale, during the invasion of the city of Kirrha, the Greeks poisoned the city's water supply with hellebores to make the defending armies of Kirrha so weak and sickened that they could not protect their city. Hellebore plant history also contains some bizarre myths. Both Dioscorides and Pliny recorded that if an eagle saw you digging up a hellebore, you would die within the year.

Another myth states that if you tossed dried, powdered hellebore flowers in the air and walked through it, you would become invisible. Hellebore was also associated with witches in medieval times. It was said to be used by witches to summon demons and to create an ointment that allowed them to fly. However, powdered hellebore was also burned to purify homes and dispel evil spirits. While much of the history of hellebores is just silly and fun, a sad fact is that up until the 18th century, hellebore was prescribed to treat worms and other digestive system issues. Many parents administered hellebore preparations to their sick children, which resulted in their deaths.

All that aside, I will leave you with the sweet legend of how hellebore earned its folk names of Christe Herbe and Christmas Rose. According to legend, a young girl visited baby Jesus shortly after his birth in Bethlehem. When she saw all the lavish gifts bestowed upon him, she felt ashamed that she had nothing to give him and began to cry. Where her tears fell to the ground, a beautiful Helleborus sprouted up. She picked this flower and gave it to the baby Jesus.

Hellebores are beautiful flowering plants that bloom early in the spring or even late winter. Most varieties of the plant are evergreens, which means last year’s growth is still hanging around when the new spring growth appears, and this can sometimes be unsightly. Keep reading to learn more about trimming hellebores and when to prune hellebores so they look their best.

When to Prune Hellebores

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. 

The old leaves may very well be damaged from the winter’s cold and looking a little rough around the edges. 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. 

If you leave the old growth for too long, it’ll become entangled with the new growth and much harder to trim away. Hellebores can also fall prey to snails and slugs, and masses of foliage give them moist, dark places to hide.

How to Prune Hellebores

Hellebore pruning is relatively easy. The plants are tough, and the appearance of new growth gives a clear signal to act. Remove the old growth by slicing cleanly through the stems as close as possible to the ground. It’s important to be careful while pruning, however, as the sap of the plant can irritate the skin. Always wear gloves and clean your pruning shears thoroughly after use.

Hellebore is a beautiful and hardy perennial flower with early spring blooms that brighten up gardens after a long winter. Hellebore is generally easy to grow and care for, but you may find that you sometimes get unattractive, brown hellebore leaves. Here’s what it means and what to do about it.

My Hellebore is Browning – Why?

First, it helps to understand your hellebore plants. These are evergreen to semi-evergreen perennials. Whether the greenery lasts all winter, or you get hellebore turning brown depends on your climate zone. Generally, hellebore is evergreen in zones 6 through 9. In colder climates, these plants may be semi-evergreen. Hellebore is hardy to zone 4, but in zones 4 and 5, it will not fully behave as an evergreen perennial. Browning hellebore plants can usually be explained by the semi-evergreen nature in certain climates. If you are in a zone in which hellebore behaves as a semi-evergreen plant, some of the old foliage will brown and die back in the winter. The colder your climate, or a particular winter season, the more browning you will see. If your hellebore leaves are turning brown, or even yellow, but you live in a warmer climate, in which it should be an evergreen plant, don’t assume the discoloration is a disease. If you have a spell of bad weather—colder and drier than usual—the browning is probably damage related to the conditions. Snow actually helps to protect hellebore leaves vulnerable to this damage, as it provides insulation and protection from dry air. Whether your hellebore is browning naturally because of your climate, or it’s damaged because of bad weather, it will likely survive to grow new foliage and blooms in the spring. You can trim off the dead, brown leaves, and wait for the new growth to come back in.

Hellebores are beautiful plants that produce attractive, silky flowers usually in shades of pink or white. They are grown for their flowers, so it can be a serious disappointment when those flowers fail to show up. Keep reading to learn more about reasons why a hellebore won’t bloom and how to encourage blooming.

Why Doesn’t My Hellebore Flower?

There are a few reasons a hellebore won’t bloom, and most of them can be traced to the way they were treated before they were sold. Hellebores are popular winter and spring blooming plants that are often bought in pots and kept as houseplants. The fact that they are grown and kept in containers means that they frequently become root bound, often before they’re even bought. This happens when the plant’s roots outgrow the space in their container and begin to wrap around and constrict themselves. This will eventually kill the plant, but a good early indicator is a lack of flowers. Another problem that stores sometimes inadvertently cause has to do with bloom time. 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. There’s a good chance they won’t bloom the following summer either. Growing a forced flowering plant is tricky, and it can take a season or two for it to settle into its natural blooming rhythm.

What to Do for No Flowers on Hellebore Plants

If your hellebore won't bloom, the best thing to do is check to see if it seems root bound. If it isn’t, then think back on when it flowered last. If it was summertime, it might need a while to acclimate. If you just transplanted it, the plant might need some time too. Hellebores take a while to settle in after being transplanted, and they may not bloom until they’re completely happy in their new home.

Is hellebore toxic? Helleborus is a genus of plants that includes a number of species commonly known by names such as Lenten rose, black hellebore, bear’s foot, Easter rose, setterwort, oriental hellebore, and others. Dog lovers frequently ask about hellebore toxicity and with good reason. All parts of the hellebore plant are toxic, and the same is true for all types of hellebores. In fact, through the years, hellebore poisoning has been the subject of legends involving murder, madness, and witchcraft.

Hellebore in the Garden

Although hellebore in the garden is beautiful, it can present a danger to pets. The plant is also harmful to cattle, horses, and other livestock but generally only when they are desperate and starving because sufficient feed is unavailable. If you aren’t sure about the existence of hellebore in the garden, or if you have any plants you are unsure of, show a picture to knowledgeable folks at a greenhouse or nursery. You can also ask experts at your local cooperative extension to identify unknown plants.

Dogs and Hellebore Toxicity

Generally, dogs won’t ingest a lot of hellebore because of the bitter, unpleasant taste (and some types also have a nasty odor). As a result, reactions tend to be fairly mild and severe toxicity is unusual. In most cases, a nasty taste and itching or burning of the mouth is the worst that will happen. It’s a very good idea, however, to call your veterinarian. He or she may direct you to induce vomiting or may tell you how to rinse your dog’s mouth in the case of pain and swelling. However, if you’re unsure how much of the plant your dog ingested, don’t wait. Take your pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Symptoms of Hellebore Poisoning in Dogs

Typical signs of hellebore toxicity include:

• Abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Drooling
• Colic
• Depression and lethargy
• Pawing at mouth
• Excessive thirst

Dogs that ingest a large amount of hellebore may experience:

• Difficulty breathing
• Paralysis
• Low blood pressure
• Weakness
• Seizures
• Heart rhythm abnormalities
• Sudden death

It’s always a good idea to research beforehand about the plants in your home and garden to weed out those that can potentially harm your pets and especially small children.

With flowers that bloom as early as Christmas time in some locations, hellebore is a popular plant for the winter garden. It makes sense that these beautiful blooms are also making their way into natural winter or early spring wedding arrangements, bouquets, etc. Continue reading for more information on wedding hellebore ideas.

About Hellebore Wedding Flowers

Every bride-to-be wants her wedding day to be a beautiful, outstanding event that her guests talk about for months afterward. For this reason, many of the traditional wedding décor and fashions are being left behind and replaced with more unique, personalized wedding ideas. The traditional, formal bridal bouquet of red roses and wispy, white baby’s breath has been abandoned for natural looking wedding bouquets full of less common blooms and accents. These wedding bouquets oftentimes contain seasonal blooms. When we think of weddings, we usually picture a beautiful spring or summer day for the nuptials. However, studies have found that at least 13 percent of weddings are in winter. While the traditional, common wedding flowers such as roses, carnations, and lilies are available from florists year-round, they can be more costly in winter and early spring. In addition, wedding arrangements and bouquets of summer blooms may seem out of place in a winter wedding. Adding inexpensive, readily available winter blooms such as hellebore flowers for weddings can be the perfect touch that ties the whole wedding scheme together.

Using Hellebore for Wedding Bouquets

Hellebore plants generally start producing beautiful blooms in late winter or early spring, depending on location. These blooms are waxy, somewhat succulent-like, and hold up in floral arrangements quite well. Hellebore wedding flowers are available in many colors such as black, purple, mauve, pink, yellow, white, and light green. Many of their blooms are also variegated with unique speckles or veining. They are available in single or double flowers as well. These unique color and texture attributes add a delightful touch to both traditional and natural bouquets and flower arrangements. Plant breeder Hans Hansen has even created a series of double hellebores that he named the Wedding Party Series. This series includes many varieties such as:

• ‘Maid Of Honor’ - produces light pink blooms with dark pink speckles
• ‘Blushing Bridesmaid’ - produces white blooms with wine to purple colored petal margins
• ‘First Dance’ - produces yellow blooms with dark pink to purple petal margins

These colorful blooms can be mixed with solid colored roses, gardenias, lilies, calla lilies, camellias and many other blooms for outstanding, unique wedding bouquets and floral arrangements. For winter weddings, accents of frosted or painted ferns, dusty miller, licorice plants, evergreen sprigs, or even pine cones can be added. Hellebore wedding flowers can easily be added to the bridesmaid’s curls or up-do’s too.

Hellebore plants, sometimes referred to as Christmas rose or Lenten rose because of their late winter or early summer blooms, are usually resistant to pests and diseases. Deer and rabbits also rarely bother hellebore plants because of their toxicity. However, the term “resistant” does not mean that hellebore is immune from experiencing problems. If you have been concerned about your sick hellebore plants, this article is for you. Read on to learn more about the diseases of hellebore.

Common Hellebore Problems

Hellebore diseases are not a common occurrence. However, in recent years a new hellebore viral disease known as Hellebore Black Death has been on the rise. Though scientists are still studying this new disease, it has been determined to be caused by a virus known as Helleborus net necrosis virus, or HeNNV for short. Symptoms of Hellebore Black Death are stunted or deformed growth, black lesions or rings on plants tissues, and black streaking on the foliage. This disease is most prevalent in spring to midsummer when warm, damp weather conditions provide an ideal environment for disease growth. Since hellebore plants prefer shade, they can be prone to fungal diseases which frequently happen in damp, shady locations with limited air circulation. Two of the most common fungal diseases of hellebore are leaf spot and downy mildew. Downy mildew is a fungal disease that infects a wide array of plants. Its symptoms are a white or gray powdery coating on leaves, stems, and flowers, which may develop into yellow spots on the foliage as the disease progresses. Hellebore leaf spot is caused by the fungus Microsphaeropsis hellebori. Its symptoms are black to brown spots on the foliage and stems and rotted looking flower buds.

Treating Diseases of Hellebore Plants

Since Hellebore Black Death is a viral disease, there is no cure or treatment. Infected plants should be dug up and destroyed to prevent the spread of this harmful disease. Once infected, fungal hellebore diseases can be hard to treat. Preventative measures work better at controlling fungal diseases than treating plants that are already infected. Hellebore plants have low water needs once established, so preventing fungal diseases can be as simple as watering less frequently and watering hellebore plants only at their root zone, without allowing water to splash back up onto the foliage. Preventative fungicides can also be used early in the growing season to reduce fungal infections. Most importantly though, hellebore plants should be properly spaced from each other and other plants to provide adequate air circulation around all aerial parts of the plant. Overcrowding can give fungal diseases the dark, damp conditions in which they love to grow. Overcrowding also leads to the spread of fungal diseases from the foliage of one plant rubbing against the foliage of another. It is also always important to clean up garden debris and waste to control the spread of disease.

What are oriental hellebores? Oriental hellebores (Helleborus orientalis) are one of those plants that make up for all the shortcomings of the other plants in your garden. These evergreen perennials are long blooming (late winter – mid spring), low maintenance, tolerant of most growing conditions, and generally pest-free and deer-resistant. Not to mention they add a whole lot of aesthetic appeal to a landscape with their large, cup-shaped, rose-like, nodding flowers. I think I need to pinch myself to convince myself that this plant is real. It certainly sounds too good to be true! Read on to find out more oriental hellebore info and what is involved with growing oriental hellebore plants.

Oriental Hellebore Info 

Word of Caution – As it turns out, there is just one aspect of hellebore, commonly referred to as Lenten rose or Christmas rose, which is not so rosy. It is a toxic plant and is poisonous to humans and pets if any plant parts are ingested. Other than this, there does not seem to be any other significant negative characteristics for growing oriental hellebore plants, but this is something you will definitely want to take into consideration particularly if you have young children.

Oriental hellebores originated in Mediterranean regions such as northeastern Greece, northern and northeastern Turkey, and Caucasus Russia. Rated for USDA hardiness zones 6 to 9, this clump-forming plant typically grows 12 to 18 inches (31-46 cm.) high with a spread of 18 inches (46 cm.). This winter blooming plant features five, petal-like sepals in an array of colors that include pink, burgundy, red, purple, white, and green. 

In terms of lifespan, you can reasonably expect it to adorn your landscape for at least five years. It is very versatile in a landscape, as it can be planted en masse, used as a border edging, or as a welcome addition to rock or woodland garden settings.

How to Grow Oriental Hellebores

While oriental hellebores tolerate most growing conditions, they will grow to their maximum potential when planted in a partially shaded location protected from cold winter winds in soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline, rich, and well-draining. A full-shade location is not conducive to flower production.

When planting, space plants at least 18 inches (46 cm.) apart and position the oriental hellebores in the ground so that the top of their crowns are ½ inch (1 cm.) below the soil level. Following this guideline will ensure that it is not planted too deeply, affecting flower production later.

In terms of hydration, be sure to maintain soil that is evenly moist and keep the plants well-watered the first year. A light application of granular, balanced fertilizer is recommended in early spring when the flowers appear to give the plants a nice boost.

Propagation is made possible by the division of the clumps in early spring or via seeds. 

If you have hellebore flowers and want a helluva lot more of them, it’s easy to see why. These winter-hardy, shade perennials exhibit a unique beauty with their nodding, cup-shaped flowers. So, you will no doubt want to learn more about collecting hellebore seeds.

Caution: Before Collecting Hellebore Seeds

Safety first! Hellebore is a poisonous plant, so it is strongly advised that you wear gloves when handling this plant for the harvesting of hellebore seeds, as it will cause skin irritation and burning in varying degrees of severity depending on the level and duration of exposure.

How to Collect Hellebore Seeds

Collecting hellebore seeds is easy. Hellebore seed harvest typically occurs during the late spring to early summer timeframe. You will know when the pods are in a state of readiness for seed harvest once they fatten or swell, change color from pale green to brown, and have just begun to split open. Using snips, scissors, or pruners, trim the seed pods off the flower head. Each seed pod, which develops in the center of the bloom, will have seven to nine seeds, with ripe seeds being characteristically black and shiny. Seed pods normally split when ready for collection but you can gently pry seed pods open and then proceed with the harvesting of hellebore seeds inside once they’ve turned brown. If you’d prefer not to monitor your hellebore daily for that telltale pod split, you can place a muslin bag over the seed head once the pods start to swell. The bag will catch the seeds once the pods split open and prevent the seeds from scattering away onto the ground. Once the seed is collected, it should be sown immediately, as hellebore is a seed type that does not store well and will lose its viability quite rapidly in storage. However, if you wish to pursue saving the seeds, place them in a paper envelope and tuck them in a cool, dry place. One note: if you are under the impression that your hellebore seed harvest will produce hellebores identical to the plant that you collected them from, you might be in for a surprise, as the plants you grow most likely will not be true to the parent type. The only way to assure true to type is by plant division.

In late winter when it may feel like winter will never end, the early blooms of hellebores can remind us that spring is just around the corner. Depending on location and variety, these blooms can persist well into the summer. However, their nodding habit can make them barely noticeable in a shade garden full of other outstanding colorful blooms. That’s why hellebore breeders have created newer, showier double flowered hellebore varieties. Continue reading to learn about growing a double hellebore.

What are Double Hellebores?

Also known as Lenten Rose or Christmas Rose, hellebores are early blooming perennials for zones 4 through 9. Their nodding flowers are oftentimes one of the first plants in the garden to start blooming and their foliage may be semi evergreen to evergreen in most climates. Due to their coarse, serrated foliage and waxy blooms, hellebores are rarely eaten by deer or rabbits. Hellebores grow best in part to full shade. They especially need to be protected from the afternoon sun. They will naturalize and spread when grown in the proper location and are drought tolerant once established. Hellebore blooms are a delight to see in late winter to early spring when, in some places, clumps of snow and ice still linger in the garden. However, when the rest of the garden is in full bloom, hellebore flowers can seem inconspicuous. Some original varieties of hellebore only bloom for a short time in late winter and early spring. Double flowering hellebores remain showy and have a longer bloom time than single flowering hellebores, but require the same minimal care. This means that for those interested in knowing how to grow a double hellebore plant, it’s no different than growing any other hellebore variety.

Double Hellebore Varieties

Many double hellebore varieties have been created by renowned plant breeders. One of the most popular, the Wedding Party Series, was created by breeder Hans Hansen. This series includes:

• ‘Wedding Bells’ has double white blooms
• ‘Maid Of Honor’ has light to dark pink double blooms
• ‘True Love’ has wine red blooms
• ‘Confetti Cake’ has double white blooms with dark pink speckles
• ‘Blushing Bridesmaid’ has double white blooms with burgundy edges and veining
• ‘First Dance’ has double yellow flowers with purple edges and veining
• ‘Dashing Groomsmen’ has double blue to dark purple blooms
• ‘Flower Girl’ has double white flowers with pink to purple edges

Another popular double hellebore series is the Mardi Gras Series, created by plant breeder Charles Price. This series has flowers that are larger than other hellebore blooms. Also popular in double flowering hellebores is the Fluffy Ruffles Series, which includes the varieties ‘Showtime Ruffles,’ which has double maroon blooms with light pink edges and ‘Ballerina Ruffles,’ which has light pink blooms and dark pink to red speckles. Other notable double flowering hellebores are:

• ‘Double Fantasy,’ with double white blooms
• ‘Golden Lotus,’ with double yellow blooms
• ‘Peppermint Ice,’ which has double light pink blooms with red edges and veining
• ‘Phoebe,’ which has double light pink blooms with dark pink specks
• ‘Kingston Cardinal,’ with double mauve flowers.

Hellebores or Lenten rose can often be seen blooming even when snow is still present. These attractive, easy-to-grow plants are propagated by division or seed. Seeds may not be true to the parent and can take two to four years to flower, but an interesting flower may result and seed propagation is much less expensive than purchasing more plants. Learn how to propagate hellebores and which method might be best for you.

How to Propagate Hellebores

One of the outstanding late winter to early spring blooming plants is the hellebore. With their persistent deeply cut leaves and softly hued blooms, hellebores are perfect for shady to partially shady locations with plentiful moisture. Their bell-shaped blooms last for a month or more and add gentle elegance to the plant. Hellebore propagation methods vary dependent upon species. 

The stinking hellebores are best propagated with seed while oriental hybrids are usually divided to ensure new plants are true to the parent. If you can't determine which type of plant you own, it might be best to try both hellebore propagation methods. 

There are two main types of the plants: Stemless, or Acaulsecent, and stemmed, or Caulescent. The former produces leaves from the basal growth, while the latter produces leaves off of existing stems. Only stemless plants can be divided. Those would be the oriental hybrids, while the stinking hellebores (Hellebore foetidus or Hellebore argutifolius) perform best as seeded specimens. Propagating a hellebore by division is relatively easy. 

Tie the leaves together in early spring and dig around and under the root zone. Use a pair of garden forks to gently separate the rhizomes. Plant each new section immediately and provide even moisture as they establish. They may need a year of recovery before the plants bloom.

Propagating a Hellebore with Seed

Hellebore plant propagation through seed results in blooming plants many years later than division but is most suitable for stemmed varieties. In fact, many of these are nurse plants, and if you part the leaves, you can find wild babies growing under the large foliage. This gives us a clue to the type of environment seedlings require. Soil must be rich in organic matter, evenly moist but not boggy, and seeds need little light to germinate. Early spring is the best time to sow seed. 

If you already have seedlings, transplant them in early spring into pots or directly into a semi-shady prepared garden bed. These seedlings may be variable as to the type of flower they produce, but it is an adventure many gardeners are willing to take. Whether you choose hellebore plant propagation through seed or division, new plants need a little extra care for their first year outdoors. 

Young seedlings should not go outdoors until all danger of frost has passed, but keep them in a cool location such as an unheated garage or greenhouse. Keep plants evenly moist but avoid boggy soil. Plants should not be placed in full sun, which will retard growth and damage leaves.

Divided plants are a bit hardier and can go straight into garden soil in early spring when they are separated. Feed plants the second year with a good time release granular fertilizer in spring. Remove old leaves as they occur. After the first year outdoors, hellebores are self-sustaining except during dry periods where they will require supplemental moisture.

Hellebore varieties are numerous and include a range of colors and even double petals. This pretty little flower is a great choice for many gardens, not just for the many varieties, but also because it blooms when most other flowers are done or have yet to start for the year. For an extended blooming season in your garden, choose one or more of these types of hellebores.

What are Hellebores?

These perennial flowers are hardy to zone 4, so they can grow in many different gardens. They produce flowers early in spring and have evergreen foliage, so hellebore adds color and texture year-round. In milder climates, they may even produce flowers as early as January. Deer resistant and untroubled by many other pests, these flowers are also easy to grow. They prefer rich soil, partial shade, and only some watering during summer and dry conditions. The most difficult thing you’ll find with growing hellebore is choosing the variety.

Different Hellebore Plant Types

Among the many varieties of hellebore, you’ll find a complete range of colors, making it difficult but fun to choose one or more for your garden:

Corsican hellebore. This variety does not produce the largest or most dramatic hellebore flowers, but it does grow vigorously and creates lush foliage. The flowers are small and pale green.

Ivory prince. This pretty variety produces an abundance of ivory-colored flowers that also have chartreuse and blush veining in the petals. The foliage is blue-green, and the plant is compact in size and density.

Winter Jewels. This is a series of hellebore varieties designed to produce large blooms in a range of colors. These are also known as Lenten rose. There is Cherry Blossom, white and pink flowers with red centers; Golden Sunrise, which is yellow; Apricot Blush with apricot tinged, white petals; and the stunning Black Diamond. The latter produces purple foliage that turns green and dark burgundy blooms that are nearly black.

Fragrant hellebore. For aroma as well as visual interest, choose the fragrant hellebore. The flowers are large and a vivid lime-green to yellow in color. They produce a fragrance that can vary from sweet to a little bit skunky.

Picotee Lady. This variety of hellebore develops green-white flowers with pink veining and dark red around the edge of each petal.

Double Ladies. The double ladies are hellebore plants that produce double-petal blooms. They come in several shades including red, pink, white, yellow, and purple. With so many hellebore varieties to choose from, not to mention the qualities of being easy to grow and producing winter-to-spring blossoms, this particular perennial is a top choice for four-season gardeners.

Hellebore is a lovely and unique flowering perennial that adds blooms and color to gardens in early spring, or depending on the climate, in late winter. More often used in beds, potted hellebores can also be a nice addition to patios and indoor areas.

Can You Grow a Hellebore in a Container?

Hellebore plants are prized for their unusual and pretty flowers, but also because the blooms come out in winter or early spring. These are great plants for four-season gardens and if you need something to add winter color to your beds. But what about hellebore in containers? You absolutely can grow these plants in containers, but there are some important things to keep in mind in order to help them thrive in pots.

How to Care for Hellebores in a Pot

You may see container grown hellebore around Christmas time when it is sold as Christmas rose. Often these, along with other holiday plants like poinsettia, are used for decorations and then allowed to die or just tossed. There’s no need to let your potted hellebore go downhill, though. 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. It’s also important to choose a large container, as hellebore plants don’t like to be transferred. The stress of the move can be damaging, so give your plant room to grow. The depth of the pot is particularly important as the roots mostly grow down. Position your potted hellebores to get as much sun as possible during the winter and spring months. A little shade will be appreciated as it gets warmer. Hellebore also prefers cooler temperatures in the winter, so make sure it gets sun without too much heat. The flowers tend to droop downward, so find an elevated position for your container grown hellebore so you can fully enjoy it. Hellebore is at its best when planted outdoors in the ground, but if you have limited space or you simply want to enjoy these lovely flowers as a houseplant, you should be able to make it comfortable in an indoor container.

Hellebore plants make delightful additions to any garden, with their showy flowers that look like roses in shades of yellow, pink, and even deep purple. These flowers may differ if you plant their seeds, with the new hellebore plants offering even greater color variations. If you are interested in growing hellebore from seed, you need to follow a few simple tips to ensure that hellebore seed propagation is successful. Read on to learn how to grow hellebore from seed.

Hellebore Seed Propagation

Beautiful hellebore plants (Helleborus spp) usually produce seeds in springtime. The seeds grow in seed pods that appear once the blossoms are spent, usually in late spring or early summer. You may be tempted to hold off on planting hellebore seeds until fall or even the following spring. However, this is a mistake, since a delay in planting can prevent hellebore seed propagation.

Planting Hellebore Seeds

To be sure you will be successful with seed grown hellebores, you need to get those seeds into the ground as quickly as possible. In the wild, the seeds are “planted” as soon as they drop to the ground. In fact, you may see an example of this in your own garden. You are likely to have seed grown hellebores appear in frustrating numbers just under the “mother” plant. The seeds you carefully saved to plant in containers the following spring produce few or no seedlings. The trick is to start planting hellebore seeds in late spring or early summer, just as Mother Nature does. Your success at growing hellebore from seeds may depend on it.

How to Grow Hellebore from Seeds

Hellebores thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. If you already have a plant in your yard, you don’t worry about this. If you will be growing hellebore from seeds and get some from a friend in another region, take note. If you want to know how to grow hellebore from seeds, start out with good potting soil in flats or containers. Sow the seeds on top of the soil, then cover them with a very thin layer of potting soil. Some experts suggest topping this with a thin layer of fine grit. The key to successfully germinating the seeds is providing regular light irrigation all summer long. Do not allow the soil to dry out but don’t keep it wet either. Keep the flat outside in an area similar to where you will plant the seedlings. Leave them outside through fall and winter. In winter they should germinate. Move a seedling to its own container when it has produced two sets of leaves.

Gardeners love hellebore, among the first plants to flower in spring and the last to die in winter. Even when the blooms fade, these evergreen perennials have shiny leaves that ornament the garden all year long. So, when pests of hellebore attack your plants, you’ll want to jump in to save them from harm. Read on for information on different hellebore pest problems and how to recognize them.

Hellebore Pest Problems

Hellebore plants are generally vigorous and healthy, and they are not particularly susceptible to bug damage. However, there are a few bugs that eat hellebores. One to watch for is aphids. They can munch the hellebore foliage. They are not very serious as pests of hellebore, however. Just wash them off with hose water. Other bugs that eat hellebores are called leaf miners. These bugs dig into the leaf surface and cause “mined out” serpentine areas. That doesn’t add to the attraction of the plants but doesn’t kill them either. Cut off and burn affected foliage. 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. They are black with yellow markings. You should pick them off the plant by hand. Don’t worry about rodents, deer, or rabbits as potential pests of hellebores. All parts of the plant are toxic, and the animals won’t touch it.

Fungal Hellebore Plant Pests

In addition to the bugs that eat hellebores, you also have to watch for fungal hellebore pest problems. These include downy mildew and hellebore leaf spot. You can recognize downy mildew by a gray or white powder that forms on the leaves, stems, or even flowers. Apply sulfur or a general systematic insecticide every two weeks. Hellebore leaf spot is caused by the fungus Coniothyrium hellebori. It proliferates in damp conditions. If you see your plant foliage damaged by dark, circular blotches, your plant may have been infected. You’ll want to act quickly to remove and destroy all infected leaves. Then spray with a Bordeaux mixture every month to prevent the fungus from doing more damage. Fungal hellebore problems also include botrytis, a virus that thrives in cool, damp conditions. Recognize it by a gray mold covering the plant. Take out all diseased foliage. Then avoid further infection by watering in the daytime and keeping water off the plants.

Have you ever heard of Christmas roses or Lenten roses? These are two common names used for hellebore plants, evergreen perennials and garden favorites. Hellebores are often the first plants to flower in spring and can bloom into winter. If you are thinking about planting hellebores, you’ll want to know what you are getting into. Yes, you may have problems with hellebores, but they will be few and far between. Hellebore plant problems can usually be solved with a little attention and care. Read on for information on hellebore pests and diseases and tips on managing hellebore issues.

Problems with Hellebores

There is so much to love about hellebores. With shiny evergreen leaves and lovely, long-blooming flowers, hellebores thrive in shade and bloom when other plants snooze. This makes managing hellebore issues a priority. Hellebores are quite healthy and vigorous as well, and not particularly susceptible to pests. However, you’ll invite problems with hellebores if you don’t give them the growing conditions they need. For example, hellebores are very tolerant of different soils, but if you grow them in waterlogged soil, you can expect hellebore plant problems. Be sure the soil, whether acid or alkaline, offers decent drainage. Another example of inviting problems with hellebores involves water. Hellebore plant problems can arise from improper attention to watering. Hellebores grow best with some irrigation. While these plants are drought resistant, once their root systems are mature and established, they must have regular water when first transplanted. This is true of every plant in your garden, so no big surprise. Also, don’t lean too heavily on the drought resistant claim. Hellebores won’t do well in extreme drought at any time.

Hellebore Pests and Diseases

Hellebore pests and diseases don’t take down these healthy plants very often, but aphids can sometimes be a problem. Look inside the blossoms and on new leaves. If you see a sticky substance dripping down, it is likely honeydew from aphids. If you notice aphids on your plants, first try washing them off with a hose. This usually does the trick. If not, import ladybugs or spray the aphids with nontoxic neem oil. Sometimes snails and slugs eat seedlings or new foliage. Your best bet is to pick them off at night and move them on their way. Many different types of fungal infections can attack hellebore, but it’s not that frequent an occurrence. Gardeners who don’t like to use fungal sprays can simply remove foliage and entire plants if they are vulnerable. One destructive disease is called Black Death. As the name indicates, it is one of the hellebore diseases that can kill the plants. You’ll recognize it by the black streaks and blotches that appear on leaves and flowers. You probably won’t see this disease, though, as it tends to show up mostly in nurseries, not home gardens. If you do, don’t try to treat it. Just dig up and destroy infected plants.

Hellebores belong to a genus of over 20 plants. The most commonly grown are Lenten rose and Christmas rose. The plants primarily bloom in late winter to early spring and are excellent specimens for a shady location in the garden. Dividing hellebore plants is not necessary, but it can enhance flowering in older plants. Division is not only a great way to propagate hellebores that have become old, but you can also easily repot the numerous babies the plant readily produces each year.

Can You Divide Lenten Rose?

Hellebores form dusky bronze to creamy white blooms. They are native to central and south Europe where they grow in poor soils in mountain regions. These plants are very tough and need little care. They are hardy to zone 4, and deer and rabbits ignore them in favor of tastier treats. 

The plants can be a bit on the costly side, so knowing how to propagate hellebores can increase your stock without breaking the bank. Seed is one option, but so is division. 

Starting hellebores by seed can be difficult, but out in nature these plant seeds grow prolifically. In most cases, though, it can take three to five years to get a blooming specimen from seed, which is why most gardeners purchase a mature plant that is already blooming. 

Or, as with most perennials, you can divide hellebores. You need to make sure the plant is healthy and well established because the process will leave the pieces in a weakened state. 

Fall is the best time to attempt dividing hellebore plants. A new Lenten rose transplant from dividing needs to be monitored carefully and given some extra attention until the root mass adjusts.

Transplanting a Hellebore

The best time for division is when you are already transplanting a hellebore. These plants are fussy about being moved and it is best to do it only when necessary. Dig up the whole plant, wash off the soil, and use a clean, sterile, sharp knife to cut the root mass into two or three sections. 

Each little transplant should then be installed in well worked soil with plenty of organic matter in a partially shaded location. Provide supplemental water as the plant adjusts. 

Once each section is adjusted and fully back to health, you should have blooms the following season, which is far more quickly than propagation by seed.

How to Propagate Hellebores

The other way to get more hellebores is to simply harvest the babies from under the plant leaves. These will rarely get very large under the parent, as they are missing out on a lot of light and have competition for water and nutrients. 

Repot the small plants in 4 inch (10 cm.) pots in well-draining potting soil. Keep them mildly moist in partial shade for a year and then transplant them to larger containers the following fall. Containers can be kept outdoors year-round unless a sustained freezing event is expected. 

In such cases, move the young plants to an unheated area, like the garage. After another year, install the babies in the ground. Space young plants 15 inches (38 cm.) apart to allow them room to grow. 

Wait patiently and around year three to five, you should have a mature, fully blooming plant.

Hellebore is a shade-loving perennial that bursts forth in rose-like blooms when the last traces of winter still have a tight grip on the garden. While there are several hellebore species, Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) and Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis) are the most common in American gardens, growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 8 and 4 through 9, respectively. If you’re smitten with the lovely little plant, you may be wondering what to plant with hellebores. Read on for helpful suggestions about companion planting with hellebores.

Hellebore Plant Companions

Evergreen plants make great hellebore companion plants, serving as a dark backdrop that makes the bright colors pop in contrast. Many shade-loving perennials are attractive companions for hellebores, as are bulbs that bloom in early spring. Hellebore also gets along well with woodland plants that share similar growing conditions. When selecting hellebore companion plants, beware of large or fast-growing plants that can be overwhelming when planted as hellebore companion plants. Although hellebores are long-lived, they are relatively slow growers that take time to spread. Here are just a handful of the many plants suitable for companion planting with hellebores:

Evergreen ferns

• Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), Zones 3-9
• Japanese tassel fern (Polystichum polyblepharum), Zones 5-8
• Hart’s tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium), Zones 5-9

Dwarf evergreen shrubs

• Girard’s Crimson (Rhododendron ‘Girard’s Crimson’), Zones 5-8
• Girard’s Fuschia (Rhododendron ‘Girard’s Fuschia’), Zones 5-8
• Christmas box (Sarcococca confusa), Zones 6-8

Bulbs

• Daffodils (Narcissus), Zones 3-8
• Snowdrops (Galanthus), Zones 3-8
• Crocus, Zones 3-8
• Grape hyacinth (Muscari), Zones 3-9

Shade-loving perennials

• Bleeding heart (Dicentra), Zones 3-9
• Foxglove (Digitalis), Zones 4-8
• Lungwort (Pulmonaria), Zones 3-8
• Trillium, Zones 4-9
• Hosta, Zones 3-9
• Cyclamen (Cyclamen spp.), Zones 5-9
• Wild ginger (Asarium spp.), Zones 3-7

Lenten rose plants (Helleborus x hybridus) are not roses at all but a hellebore hybrid. They are perennial flowers that derived their name from the fact that the blooms look similar to that of a rose. In addition, these plants are seen blooming in early spring, often during the Lent season. The attractive plants are fairly easy to grow in the garden and will add a nice splash of color to gloomy, dark areas.

Growing Lenten Rose Plants

These plants grow best in rich, well-draining soil that's kept somewhat moist. They also prefer to be planted in partial to full shade, making them great for adding color and texture to dark areas of the garden. Since the clumps are low growing, many people like planting Lenten roses along walks or wherever edging may be needed.

 These plants are also great for naturalizing wooded areas as well as slopes and hillsides. The Lenten rose flower will begin blooming in late winter to early spring, lighting the garden with colors that range from white and pink to red and purple. These flowers will appear at or below the plant's leaves. 

After flowering has ceased, you can simply enjoy the attractive dark green foliage.

Lenten Rose Care

Once established in the landscape, Lenten rose plants are quite hardy, requiring little care or maintenance. In fact, over time these plants will multiply to create a nice carpet of foliage and springtime blooms. They're also drought tolerant. 

About the only downside to growing these plants is their slow propagation or recovery if disturbed. They generally do not require division and will respond slowly if divided. While seeds can be collected in spring, they're best used right away; otherwise, they will dry up and go dormant. 

The seeds will then require both warm and cold stratification before germination can occur.

Flowers of hellebores are a welcome sight when they bloom in late winter to early spring, sometimes while the ground is still covered with snow. Different varieties of the hellebore plant offer a range of flower colors, from white to black. 

One of the earliest blooms spotted in many areas, nodding hellebore flowers are often fragrant and long-lasting. Growing hellebores is a worthwhile task for the gardener. 

Aside from lovely and unusual flowers, the hellebore plant has attractive, green foliage that is aesthetically pleasing in the landscape. Once established, hellebore care is minimal. 

This herbaceous or evergreen perennial is disliked by deer and other animal pests prone to munching on plants. All parts of the hellebore plant are poisonous, so take care to keep children and pets away.

Tips for Growing Hellebores

When planting from seed or division, place the hellebore into well-draining, organic soil in filtered sun or a shady location. The hellebore plant will return for many years; make sure the space will accommodate growth and has proper sunlight. 

Hellebores need no more than a few hours of dappled light and grow successfully in shady areas. Plant the hellebore under deciduous trees or scattered through a woodland garden or shaded natural area Soaking the soil in which the hellebore is growing helps the hellebore plant to look its best. 

Hellebore care includes the removal of older leaves when they appear damaged. Care for hellebores should also include careful fertilization. Too much nitrogen may result in lush foliage and a shortage of blooms. 

Plant hellebore seeds in the fall. A 60-day moist chilling period is needed when planting seeds of the hellebore plant. Planting seed in fall allows this to happen naturally in areas with cold winters. 

Wait three to four years for blooms on young plants grown from seed. Divide overgrown clumps in spring, after flowering, or in autumn.

Types of Hellebores

While many varieties of hellebores exist, Helleborus orientalis, the Lenten Rose, is among the earliest of winter bloomers and offers the widest selection of colors. Helleborus foetidus, called the stinking bear foot or bear paw hellebore, offers flowers in a pastel shade of green and has an unusual fragrance disliked by some; consequently it may be referred to as stinking. 

The foliage of the bear foot hellebore is segmented and serrated, sometimes turning to deep red in cold weather, when it is highly ornamental. Flowers may be edged in the deep red to burgundy color. 

This hellebore plant prefers more sun than its oriental counterparts. Helleborus niger, the Christmas Rose, features 3-inch (7.5 cm.) blooms of the purest white. Many hybrids of hellebores offer a range of flower colors; the colors often change as they mature. Hellebore care is simple and worthwhile. 

Plant a variety of hellebores in your garden in the shade for a lovely spring flower.