Dennis Morgeson Agent for Horticulture Washington County
Helleborus x hybridus
Commonly known as Lenten or Christmas Rose (no relation to the actual rose family) Hellebores are a member of the genus Helleborus which comprises about 20 species They are in the buttercup family (Rannunclaceae) with Clematis, Delphinium, and Trollius Hellebores are herbaceous evergreen perennials that can live over 100 years! The scientific name is derived from the Greek name H. orientalis “helleboros”, “elein” to injure and “bora” food. Many are poisonous!
Distribution and Description The genus is native to much of Europe, including Great Britain, Spain, Portugal, the Mediterranean region, Romania, Turkey, and the Caucasus and Balkans. ď‚ž Atypical species such as H. thibetanus is from Western China, and H. vesicarius from Turkey and Syria ď‚ž
Hellebore Mythology
“Hellebore” the name relate to the fact small particles of the plant can stimulate sneezing, the ingredient is Protanemonin, its very toxic and can kill you in higher doses. It was believed that you could sneeze out evil spirits so the plant was used to induce sneezing.
Mythology Mythology states that a poor shepherd was traveling to Bethlehem. He was going to see Christ but had no flowers because it was winter. He wept and everywhere a tear dropped a “Christmas Rose” sprang up. Another less common, common name is Oracle flower. It was thought the Christmas Rose could predict the weather, on Christmas Eve 12 flowers were cut, one for each month, open flowers meant good weather and closed meant bad.
Hellebores As Medicine Hippocrates used hellebore as a purgative and diuretic agent. It was also used to ward off mental illness ď‚ž Witches in medieval times used hellebore to make salves that were thought to bring on the fountain of youth, also the hellebore powder dusted on the floor was thought to make people invisible ď‚ž
Hellebores As Medicine In 600 BC hellebores were used to poison drinking water so that the Athenians could easily take over the city of Kirrha. ď‚ž Today the roots of Helleborus niger are used in human medicine for cardiovascular disease. The operative ingredient is Helebrin. ď‚ž
In The Garden
Hellebores make a great addition to any shade garden. Bloom time is generally late winter and early spring. Hardy in zones 4-9 Average growth is 15-18 inches tall, forming a dark green, leathery leaf, groundcover New growth generally appears in Late January and February New flowers emerge relatively quickly through mulch or snow!
In The Garden Flower color ranges greatly now with new breeding including white, lavender, pink, plum, green, dark purple, red, and yellow Newer forms have picotee flowers, darkened floral veins, spots, blothes, and double and semi-double. The petals of hellebores are actually sepals not petals, that’s why they don’t drop readily.
In The Garden As flowers of hellebore age over the 8-10 week bloom and fruiting period some varieties petals change color many going to green, the darker varieties generally fade to pink. ď‚ž Mature seeds drop beneath the canopy and soon seedling emerge. They can be transplanted readily to new shady sites. ď‚ž
Landscape Use ď‚ž
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Hellebores coarse textured leaves combine well to other plants in the shade garden especially against ferns and hosta. The evergreen nature of hellebores also gives winter interest and smothers out cool season weeds. Hellebores rarely need dividing and spread slowly making them very low care, and they are drought tolerant once established!
Culture and Care Hellebores enjoy shade or part shade but flower best in part shade If you don’t have large trees or shady areas the North and East sides of buildings and houses work well You can also plant under shrubs for a partly shady area
Culture and Care Hellebore prefer well drained rich hummus soil Add in organic matter at planting if you have very heavy clay soil. Amendments such as leaf mold works great as it mimics a woodland setting Generally planting under trees and shrubs keeps the soil well draining Hellebores prefer a more basic to neutral pH and aren’t the best companions for acid loving plants such as rhododendrons etc.
Planting
Dig hole twice the size of the root ball of the plant and mix in organic amendments such as leaf mold which mimics a woodland setting. This will allow the plant to root in easily. At planting and for the first season don’t allow the plant to stress do to lack of water, it is important to get good establishment Good idea to mulch as well
Planting
Don’t overwater either, the equivalent of 1 inch of water per week is best Once the hellebores grow and establish themselves they will need little care To get a faster clump a light application of 10-10-10 in November or February will help. 10 lbs per 1000 square feet.
Problems Hellebore was selected plant of the year in 2005 do to its toughness Few insect or disease problems bother hellebores, some growers say the leaves are like plastic! After establishment they will need little care, maybe water in extreme droughts but few plants can survive dry shade like hellebores
Problems Hellebores are naturally deer and rabbit resistant as well.  Some gardeners cut back old foliage in late winter to make flowers more visible but this isn’t necessary, eventually the flowers will tower over the foliage 
Most likely Problems Aphids-May attack young leaves, but hardly ever in numbers that control would be warranted Thrips-may attack flowers causing discoloration or distorted late season growth (frost will stop them) Slugs-Especially if planted in moist locations, slug bait!
Most Likely Problems ď‚ž
Leaf spot that looks like black spot disease can become a problem, if planted in an area that is too wet with too low pH, clipping out and destroying infected leaves will stop the spread
Species
Caulescent species – Have leaves on their flowering stems and basal leaves Helleborus argutifolius – Corsican hellebore Helleborus foetidus – stinking hellebore or setterwort Helleborus lividus Helleborus vesicarius
Species ď‚ž
Acaulescent species – Have no true leaves on their flower stalks although there are leafy bracts where the flower stalks branch
Acaulescent Species
Helleborus atrorubens Helleborus croaticus Helleborus cyclophyllus Helleborus dumetorum Helleborus abruzzicus Helleborus liguricus Helleborus boconei Helleborus multifidus
Helleborus niger – Christmas rose or black hellebore
Helleborus multifidus subsp. hercegovinus Helleborus multifidus subsp. istriacus Helleborus multifidus subsp. multifidus
Helleborus niger subsp. macranthus (syn. H. niger major) Helleborus niger subsp. niger
Helleborus odorus
Helleborus odorus subsp. laxus Helleborus odorus subsp. odorus
Acaulescent Species
Helleborus orientalis – Lenten rose, Lenten hellebore, oriental hellebore (N.B. most of the Lenten hellebores in gardens are now considered to be H. × hybridus) Helleborus orientalis subsp. abchasicus (syn. H. abchasicus) Helleborus orientalis subsp. guttatus Helleborus orientalis subsp. orientalis (syn. H. caucasicus, H. kochii) Helleborus purpurascens Helleborus thibetanus (syn. H. chinensis) Helleborus torquatus Helleborus viridis - green hellebore or bear's-foot Helleborus occidentalis (formerly H. viridis subsp. occidentalis) Other species names (now considered invalid) may be encountered in older literature, including H. hyemalis, H. polychromus,H. ranunculinus, H. trifolius.
Hellebore Hybrids ď‚ž
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Hybridizing accidentally and deliberately has given us an array of colors, shapes, and sizes of flowers and interesting leaf types. Commercial hellebore generally are mixed or hybrid thus the botanical name Helleborus hybridus. Helleborus occidentalis is often used but is incorrect generally although it is used in the hybridzing process a lot. Hellebore hybridus are mostly acaulescent.
Interspecific Hybrids These species were awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit H. argutifolius[6] H. foetidus[7] H. lividus[8] H. niger[9] H. × sternii 'Blackthorn Group'[10]
Hellebore Flower
a = sepals b = stamens c = carpels d = honey leaves
Hellebore Fruit and Seeds
Propagation
Seed-plant seed directly in the garden in early summer or in pots (same time they would be released naturally) Soil must remain moist throughout the summer Seeds will germinate the following spring, as soon as the first leaf emerges they should be put in individual pots if pot grown It will take three years from seed to get a flowering size plant (seeds cause some people skin irritation)
Propagation
Division-take divisions in spring or fall. The caulescent species cannot be propagated by divisions but acaulescent species can. You must identify which type you have to propagate by division. Most commercially available varieties are acaulescent. Tie leaves together loosely to keep from breaking them, then split the clump with a shovel and dig out half the clump to move to a new location. Some growers claim hellebores don’t need nor like to be divided.
You’re Taking Home?
Winter Jewels ‘Berry Swirl’ Double orchid shades, some with a creamywhite center kissed with orchid edging. One of the world's top hybridizers, Marietta O'Byrne has created this wonderful Winter Jewels™ Strain. A delight in the winter garden. Deer resistant!
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Winter Jewels ‘Onyx Odyssey’ Take a dark voyage into the world of double slate, purple and black flowers. Long lasting bloom color, which doesn't fade to green, makes this strain a better value in the retail store. One of the world's top hybridizers, Marietta O'Byrne has created this wonderful Winter Jewels™ Strain. A delight in the winter garden. Deer resistant!
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Winter Jewels ‘Golden Lotus’ Charming, golden, lotuslike flowers. Many of these double yellows will have red edges and some will have red streaking on the backs, as well. One of the world's top hybridizers, Marietta O'Byrne has created this wonderful Winter Jewels™ Strain. A delight in the winter garden. Deer resistant!
Questions?