This month we’re collecting gorgeous hellebores from Ashwood Nurseries. The way hellebores hybridise makes it very difficult for the nurseries to give each cultivar a name, so you’ll find these plants labelled by shape and colour. And nursery owner John Massey has kindly shared his tips for growing hellebores at the end of the post. Enjoy!
Anemone form, deep pink shade Helleborus x hybridus
Peach apricot shade, spotted flushed Helleborus x hybridus
Pink/red nectarie red flush Helleborus x hybridus
Pink picotee red flush dark nectaries Helleborus x hybridus
Primrose yellow red flush dark nectaries Helleborus x hybridus
Slate grey blotched Helleborus x hybridus
Double pale pink spotted Helleborus x hybridus
Yellow-gold nectaries spotted Helleborus x hybridus
Helleborus x ericsmithii
Five things you need to know about hellebores:
1. Enjoy moist but well-drained soil
2. Soil needs to be humus-rich: we use spent mushroom compost for our plants
3. Prefer a shady, sheltered site – grow among deciduous shrubs
4. Feed plants in early spring and late summer to encourage flower production
5. Remove all the leaves from semi-deciduous varieties (Garden Hybrids and Lenten Roses) in late December. This makes the flowers easier to see.