HELLEBORE

Here in the Pacific Northwest the blooming of hellebores is a favorite late winter reminder that spring is right around the corner. The genus of Helleborus is comprised of 15 different species and belongs to the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). Hellebores are perennial and largely evergreen. Their flowers provide color and interest in the shade garden when other plants are dormant. In addition, their leaf structure is interesting enough to make them a foundation of the shade garden year-round, even when their flowers are spent. Hellebores are also deer resistant and somewhat drought tolerant.

Hellebores are usually low growing plants with short-stemmed, often toothed, palmate foliage. Their most impressive feature is their five-petal bowl-shaped flowers which appear from late winter into spring in colors as diverse as apricot, yellow, green, metallic blue, slate, dusky pink, maroon and white. In addition, petals may be spotted or picoteed, referring to the narrow band of darker color found on the edge of the petals. Some varieties feature double-petalled flowers, giving them a nostalgic rose-like quality.

Those of us living in the Pacific Northwest are especially lucky because of our proximity to Northwest Garden Nursery in Eugene, owned by Marietta and Ernie O’Byrne. They are world-renowned for their hand-selection and breeding of hellebores to create cultivars with an amazing range of flower colors, as well as other noteworthy qualities. Here at Portland Nursery we are excited to carry varieties created by the O’Byrnes.

Some of our favorite species of hellebores are described in greater detail below.

Click photos to enlarge.

Helleborus argutifolius - Known as the Corsican hellebore, this species is evergreen and hardy to Zone 6 with good protection. This species has light green leaves with many light green colored flowers displayed on stalks. Leaves are divided into three leaflets that are toothed in texture with spiny margins. This is an attractive low maintenance species that provides lots of winter interest. Noteworthy varieties include ‘Silver Lace’ which is a new variety with silver foliage and creamy flowers.

Helleborus foetidus - Known as the Stinking Hellebore, this species is evergreen and known to be pungent if crushed. Originating from Britain to Hungary, this species has dark green leaves with 5 to 13 narrow leaflets. Flowers are light green to red-tinted and erect with conspicuous leafy bracts. This species is very hardy and a good garden plant once established. Varieties carried by Portland Nursery include ‘Wester Flisk,’ 'Aromatique,’ ‘Giant Form,’ ‘Gold Bullion’ and ‘Red Silver.’

Helleborus niger - Known as the Christmas Rose, the Helleborus niger is winter to spring flowering, evergreen and native to the Alps of northern Italy to southern Germany. Leaves of this species are dark green, leathery and divided into 7 to 9 leaflets. Flowers have pinkish buds opening to white with a green center. This species is hardy to Zone 3 with protection. Varieties carried by Portland Nursery include the double flowered ‘Double Fantasy,’ (pictured in sidebar) as well as ‘Josef Lemper’ (pictured left) and ‘Praecox.’

Helleborus orientalis - Known commonly as the Lenten rose, this species is a semi-evergreen winter-flowering species from northern Turkey and Greece. Leaves are coarsely serrated and flowers are variable from pure white to red-black, often with spotting. This species is commonly hybridized with other species to form Helleborus x hybridus which results in varieties as diverse in color as apricot, blue, black and maroon red. Portland Nursery carries a changing variety of many types listed below.

Helleborus x hybridus - Largely a hybrid of Helleborus orientalis and another species such as H. cyclophyllus, H. odorus, H. purpurascens or H. viridis. Most varieties are variable and represent selected seedling material with an eye towards different flower colors. Typical flower colors include white, pink, rose, reddish-purple, deep purple and even black. These hybrids are very popular and include cultivars such as 'Gepunktete' (pictured in sidebar) which is intensely spotted and series such as Mardi Gras (black, green, slate, white and yellow flowers) and(apricot, double pink, double white, double purple, green, pink and yellow flowers -- single purple pictured) which each have a range of colors.

Another popular hybrid is Hellebore ‘Ivory Prince’ (pictured) Officially known as Hellebore ‘Walhelivor PPAF,’ this hellebore is a hybrid of two other hybrids, ‘x nigercors’ and ‘x ericsmithii.’ Noteworthy are its upright blooming cream and pink colored flowers, as well as its light-green serrated leaves with red stems. “Royal Heritage” is a strain that is known for its wide diversity of colors and patterns on large two-inch wide pendulous flowers.