Where is the best place to plant Helleborus?
The best place to plant hellebores is in moist, well-drained soil that is neutral to alkaline. Lenten rose has a USDA Hardiness Zone of 4-9 and prefers dappled sunlight, and partial to deep shade. Plants grow from 12-18 inches tall and wide, so plant them toward the front of a flower garden border. Hellebores fit so gracefully into the landscape. Some of mine help fill the space at the bases of leggy deciduous shrubs and small trees like my dwarf almond. They coexist beautifully with companion plants like wild violets, setcreasea, artemisia, irises and spring bulbs.These plants are also fairly deer and rabbit resistant. While hellebores do spread, they are considered slow-growing plants that can take up to 18-months to reach their mature size. It’s amazing how much a garden can change with the addition of plants. After the hellebores are all planted, they’re given a good drink.Hellebores are without a doubt perennial plants in USDA hardiness zones 3-9. Unlike an annual plant which will need to be replanted year after year, or a biennial that you will need to replant every other year, hellebores are very cold tolerant and will return in the next year.Hellebore is poisonous to both people and animals and should not be eaten. Some people have a mild skin irritation reaction after touching the leaves, sepals, or flower stems of a hellebore plant.Hellebore can be pruned from early winter until early spring. Some gardeners prefer to cut back the old foliage around Christmas time, to avoid inadvertently removing the forthcoming blooms. In addition, the leaves may look tattered by early winter from insect damage, wind, or disease.
Where is the best place to plant hellebores?
Soil type: Plant hellebores in moist but well drained soil. Aspect & position: Full or partial shade in the middle of the border or under shrubs and trees. As the delicate markings of the flowers are best appreciated from underneath it can be a good idea to plant them on a slope or raised area such as a retaining wall. Hellebores can be grown in the ground or in containers. Most like: light or dappled shade, with sun for part of the day.I always cut off all the flower stems before the pods split. Finally, we’re often encouraged to divide our hardy perennials every three years and to replant the healthiest pieces in improved soil. However hellebores, like hostas, are best left to mature into large clumps and not split.
Are hellebores better in pots or in the ground?
Hellebores that need protection from frost and winter wet are best planted permanently in containers, so they can be easily moved in winter into a greenhouse, under the house eaves or into a dry, sheltered spot at the base of a wall. Hellebore Winter Care in Pots If you live in a climate colder than zone 5, you may need to surround the container with leaves for added cold protection. No water or fertilizer is necessary over the winter. Begin watering indoor containers in early spring or late winter when warmer weather begins in your climate.Established hellebores need an inch of water a week from rainfall or watering, from spring to fall. Hellebore does not need watering during the winter months. Water potted hellebores when the top layer of soil feels dry, about once a week, during their growing season.
Do hellebores spread easily?
Do Hellebores spread? Yes, hellebores have a natural inclination to spread, thanks to their extensive root systems and self-seeding habits. To manage their growth and prevent overcrowding, periodic thinning of plants may be necessary. What to do with Hellebores in the summer? Not all will self-seed, and even if they do, the resulting plant will often be different and inferior to the parent plant. Unless you have a large area to cover and are looking for an economical way to fill it, you may wish to deadhead Hellebores to preserve the integrity of your existing stock of plants.Hellebores self seed freely, so if you would like to increase your own stock do not remove the old flower heads in the spring. With a bit of luck when you tidy up the old leaves you will find quite a few babies growing underneath which can be potted up and grown on.
Is hellebore poisonous to touch humans?
Hellebore is poisonous to both people and animals and should not be eaten. Some people have a mild skin irritation reaction after touching the leaves, sepals, or flower stems of a hellebore plant. Don’t touch! These are Hellebores, an evergreen in the buttercup family. The genus name comes from the Greek words helein meaning to injure and bora meaning food which clues us in on its toxicity. ALL parts of this plant are toxic if ingested and can cause skin irritation with long exposure.
What is the problem with hellebores?
One common issue is hellebore leaf spot, caused by the fungus Microsphaeropsis hellebori. This disease appears as dark spots on leaves and can spread to stems and flowers. To manage this, remove affected foliage promptly and improve air circulation around plants. Hellebore leaf spot is caused by the fungus Microsphaeropsis hellebori. You are most likely to see infections when new plant growth is occurring from late winter until summer. The disease affects most Helleborus species and hybrids. Helleborus niger can be particularly badly affected by leaf spot.