Hellebore
Helleborus orientalis | perennial | late winter blooms
One of my first hellebores. Photo by Allie Case.
Hellebores are a flower that have been close to my heart since I began growing. When we lived in an apartment in Alameda, I had a potted hellebore that lived on our covered patio and I’d wait patiently for its January/February blooms. It sat next to a camellia that I was given for my birthday - as the “January” of January & June, I’ve always been a fan of winter bloomers! ;)
Growing Tips:
Hellebores can be a little tricky to get established in our hot zone 9b climate here in Fresno, but give them the right spot and they come back happily for years. I have my patch planted under our Japanese maple tree. In the summer, they’re shaded by the maple’s leaves, and in winter when the leaves drop they get a bit more sun. It’s a perfect little setup. They tend to look wilted and stressed in our summer heat, but unless they’re turning brown and crispy it’s just their dormancy phase. This month they’ve put out fresh new leaves and fresh buds, so I gave them a nice side dressing of mulch sprinkled with worm castings and Biotone to give them a boost. Slugs tend to like munching them in the winter, so make sure you have Sluggo sprinkled about to protect the leaves and blooms starting in December - April-ish. I have about 20 plants currently, and am adding 18 “Ice n Roses, Rose” this spring. These are from the Helleborus Gold Collection, which are a hybrid cultivar bred for their more upright facing blooms and long season.
Harvest Tips:
When a hellebore first blooms, its anthers will have pollen. Do not cut at this stage, or if any blooms on the stem are in this stage.
Wait until all pollen has dropped, leaving behind seed pods. Hellebores cut at this stage have a longer vase life.
Sear stems after cutting for about 10 seconds in boiling water to help extend vase life.
Place a cvbn tab and a bit of conditioning agent in the water to keep the water clean and the flower hydrated.
Hellebore with pollen dropped and seed pods fully formed. Ready for harvest. Photo by Allie Case.
Hellebore when first bloomed with pollen on anthers. Not ready for harvest
Hellebore with no pollen on anthers but seed pods have not yet formed. Not ready for harvest.