Helleborus

Helleborus are commonly called Hellebore. There have been approximately 20 species identified to date. The flowers of some of the species are rose like and are perhaps the first to flower of the year, hence the reason why the white flowered Helleborus niger is commonly known as the 'Christmas Rose' or 'Lentern Rose'.

The genus is native in Europe with the most occurring in the Balkans, but others are known to be natives of China and from the borders of Turkey and Syria. 

The leaves tend to be evergreen and the flowers stay on the plant for many months. Many species are poisonous.

Stunning deep purple/black flower head

Crossing helleborus plants has been done since around 1931 and we now have many variations of flower colour to decorate shady herbaceous borders early in the season. 


History    
 
Helleborus have been used in medicine almost since it's invention. It was used to treat paralysis, gout and other diseases including insanity. It is also a deadly killer causing tinnitus, vertigo, stupor, thirst, a feeling of suffocation, swelling of the tongue and throat, emesis and catharsis, bradycardia (slowing of the pulse), and finally collapse and death from cardiac arrest.

Helleborus have several legends associated with them, for instance they are believed to be used in the summoning of demons in witchcraft. It is said that Helleborus niger sprouted from snow where the tears fell of a young girl that had no gift to give to take to the baby Jesus. It is also said that Alexander the Great died as a result of taking the plant as medication, and overdosed on it.

Helleborus was reported to have been used to poison the city of Kirrha's water supply during the siege of 585BC by Greek invaders. Allegedly, the defenders were so weakened by the resulting diarrhea that they were too weak to defend the city.

Melampus of Pylos in Greek mythology, saved the King of Argos' daughters from madness by using helleborus extract.

Helleborus (Double flower head)

 
Propagation

Plants generally seed freely but the seeds of most Helleborus orientalis plants that are generally available commercially rarely come true and plants are slow to germinate. Plants hate their roots being disturbed so when it is time to split them in very early spring or autumn, they do tend to take a while to recover.

They are best grown in damp shade conditions as they grow wild in the margins of woodland. They are not too fussy about the type of soil they are grown in but do grow well in well-drained, humus rich soil out of direct sunlight and avoiding too much competition for moisture from tree roots.


Cultivation

Can be grown in pots and generally do well, apart from Helleborus orientalis which is not suited due to it's long root system.


Care

Helleborus will be happy if you mulch them annually in autumn with an organic compost. Put it around the plant but do not touch it. Alternatively, feed them with two or three handfuls of bonemeal worked into the surrounding soil.

Remove any old or diseased leaves in autumn and winter. This will help the plants defend themselves from Black Spot which appears in spring. Old flowers maybe cut off as far back as possible, assuming of course you do not want to collect the seed.

Clumps of Helleborus orientalis

Pests and Diseases

Relatively free from disease, but viruses sometimes take hold distorting leaves and/or flowers and leaving the plant weak compared to other specimens. This in turn leaves them prone to other diseases. Dig affected plants up and burn.

They can be prone to greenfly on flowers and on the underside of leaves, and slugs are partial to new shoots

Greenfly on Helleborus orientalis flower 

Aphids on Helleborus leaf.

The genus does not include American, false or white hellebore (Veratrum spp) - or the winter hellebore (Eranthis hyemalis).

Further Info

http://www.hellebores.org

Helleborus Black Death: RHS

Helleborus orientalis flower head

National collection of Helleborus are located at:

Hadlow College
Hadlow
Tonbridge
Kent
TN11 0AL

Telephone: 0500 551 434
Web: www.hadlow.ac.uk
Email: enquiries@hadlow.ac.uk

Locate on Multimap here.

Also for Helleborus (spp):

Mr Mike Byford
Hazles Cross Farm
Hollins Lane
Kingsley
Staffordshire
ST10 2EP

Telephone: 01538 752669
E-mail: mikebyford@hazlescrossfarmnursery.co.uk

Locate on Multimap here.