To keep soils moist incorporate plenty of compost when planting and mulch well. An ideal location for hellebores is under the canopy of a deciduous tree, which provides shade in the summer but loses its leaves in winter. Hellebore Plant Profile. This can take a day or two. Hellebores in containers need to be monitored very carefully to insure that they do not dry out or get over watered. Hellebores produce seed readily, and in going to seed, will spread themselves through your garden. I hope I have answered all your questions about cutting back hellebores. Most Hellebores routinely offered for sale are Helleborus hybridus ( previously known as H.orientalis,) commonly known as the Lenten rose to distinguish from Helleborus Niger, the Christmas rose which flowers much earlier. Move them to a cooler spot, around 50 degrees. Most Hellebores enjoy an evergreen foliage which remains handsome year-round and provides multiseason interest. Hellebore pruning is relatively easy. Seedlings do not look like their parents, so you may wish to remove them before they take over the display; compost them, transplant them or pot them up to share. Hellebore Companions Try these perennials with your hellebores; they require similar conditions and will either complement the hellebores as they grow and bloom or fill in with summer interest while the hellebores take a backseat: Hostas Please unpack your shipment of Hellebore plants as soon as you receive them. Autumn . If planting directly in the garden remember that hellebores require a well drained site, so planting on a slope is good. Come summer, many hellebores start to look peaked (like I feel in the hot and dry summer! Unfortunately, it takes a really long time for Hellebores to do anything from seed – many years, in my experience, and the seedlings are random colors, so they may not be just what you were hoping for. My summer flowering hellebore has never set seed, I wait every year anxiously to see if I get any seed, but so far there has been absolutely none. That’s why I usually deadhead mine and just buy new Hellebores when I want them, so I can choose which colors and styles I actually want. Remove the old growth by slicing cleanly through the stems as close as possible to the ground. Plant the hellebore under deciduous trees or scattered through a woodland garden or shaded natural area. As a background plant to hostas and ferns in the summer garden, Helleborus foetidus is marvelous. Their exquisite bowl- or saucer-shape flowers in white (often speckled), pinks, yellows, or maroon remain on the plant for several months, even after the petals have fallen. Caring For Hellebores * It's important to position the hellebores correctly in the garden. How to Prune Hellebores. Some of its species are grown as striking evergreen architectural leaves. Zones: 4 to 9; evergreen in 6 to 9. You should see germination within another four to six weeks. Hellebores produce a succession of flowers from December through to spring. Carolyn We feel that more plants are killed by too much water than by any other cause. Height/Spread: 18 to 24” tall and 24” wide. Hellebores are typically long-lived plants. Hellebores can also fall prey to snails and slugs, and masses of foliage give them moist, dark places to hide. You may find your hellebores propagate themselves by self-sowing around the garden. Site: Partial shade, well-draining soil. Keep the new transplants watered well, and otherwise follow the steps of basic hellebore care. If not, feel free to seek clarification in a comment. The regular mulching helps keep them healthy and free-flowering. Hybrid hellebores get their common name, Lenten rose, from the rose-like flowers that appear in early spring around the Christian observance of Lent.The “blooms” (which are actually sepals that protect the true flowers) last for several months, from February until May, and the … If we have an early spring and a good summer like this year, it emerges in June and flowers in July - in later summers it’s more into August. Soaking the soil in which the hellebore is growing helps the hellebore plant to look its best. Chosen by Hans Kramer, owner of De Hessenhof. Hellebores. Hellebores are so easy and so pretty, they have a place in nearly every landscape. Hellebores are long-lived, reliable winter favourites - now's the time to check them over and nip any problems in the bud, says plantsman Graham Rice. First, soak the seeds in hot water until they start to swell. Hellebore Flowers Offer Beautiful Late-Winter Blooms. Light or partial shade is best for most Hellebore varieties. Hellebore can tolerate dry conditions in the summer, but save it from the warm heat of noon. The border is fairly sunny as the birch let plenty of light through. PETER LEIGH: Well Jane, the secret to it … Learn how to grow Hellebores in containers, Growing condition of Hellebore, Hellebores Care, Pests Problems Hellebores and more about this plant.