A word about hellebores. . . .
A lot has been written about hellebores. These wonderful plants bloom at the end of the winter just when you are beginning to wonder if spring will ever come. If you are lucky enough to have some in your garden, now is the time to prune them. Their leaves are indeed evergreen, but by February many are looking a bit frayed and could do with some rejuvenation. The way to prune most hellebores is to cut off their leaves – yes, all the leaves – just as the buds are emerging. This will not harm the plant and the buds will be followed quickly by new leaves. The advantages of this are that the flowers are easily visible and not hidden by ugly old foliage, and the new foliage will look lovely and fresh.
If you have Corsican hellebores (Hellebore argutifolius) this advice does not apply. Corsican hellebores bloom a little earlier than lenten roses on top of two to three foot stems. Prune each flowering stem down to the ground after the bloom has faded, or when the weather permits.
In recent years dozens of new hellebore introductions have come to market. Traditional colors are more intense and a pallet of new colors has been added, especially purples, yellows, vibrant reds, and even greens. Flower forms now include doubles, as well as cut and picotee edges.
I was skeptical about yellow hellebores, but I have changed my mind because they are the most visible ones in the garden, and are a good choice for planting at a distance from the house or path. I particularly like those with mottled green foliage, since it is very decorative for the rest of the year, after the flowers are finished.
Christine Wegman is a Rock Spring Garden Club member in National Capital Area Garden Clubs' District III. She is one of the go-to 'hort' experts in her club. Christine and her husband, Charlie Flicker, are avid and generous gardeners and have cultivated a delightful garden (for any season) in Arlington, Virginia.
