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From In the Garden |
I looked around the garden for all types of plants that might fit the bill for February's Plant of the Month, but the hellebores have it. The crocuses couldn't compare, the witch hazel is still doing fine but was last month's Plant of the Month, the daffodils and tulips are not blooming, pansies are time worn, and evergreens won't work since I normally choose blooming plants. So here it is again-the hottest thing going in the garden this month-the Hellebores!
One would think that with all the good publicity these wonderful little evergreen plants receive that everyone on earth would know about them, but no it is not so. Just last week a very old and dear friend came over and had a look around the garden. I proudly showed her all the hellebore buds and she was in shock as she had not ever heard of hellebores and was even more astonished they bloom in February and will still look great all the way to May here in my Middle Tennessee garden. She had me write down the name of Hellebores so she would know what to look for on her annual spring shopping trip (she's an unabashed spring only gardener).I know just about everyone who reads garden blogs will know what hellebores are, so I won't belabor the point, just know these are a must have in any garden. They are evergreen, not picky about soil, reliable, wonderful little plants. I have mine planted in the woodland garden under an Eastern Red Cedar. They do get some direct sun, but no additional watering. They look good all year and positively shine in the winter. I am looking for some offspring from all of my hellebores this year-I hope! These plants should finally set some seed-perhaps lots of seeds and that will make this gardener very happy......
in the garden....
I have lenten rose in my garden, but this far south, it can be a challenge to grow these. I have found a little sun in the winter and no more than about 30 min. of sun in the summer is what is needed to grow these here. I look forward to seeing the flowers every winter.
ReplyDeleteJan
Always Growing
Good morning Tina,
ReplyDeleteHellebores really are nice, we have them in the Learning Garden, but I am sad to say, I have none. Will have to do some thinking about where I could put some.
Janet
These are very pretty and very tough!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you they are one of the best perennials, and deer and rabbits will not eat them (they are toxic). At the garden center we have decided to have our first Hellebore and Winter Garden festival at the end of the month, hopefully to get a little off-season traffic, but also to promote these little gems. You have made a good choice for plant of the month.
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting some for my garden for some time now Tina. What kind of conditions do they prefer? (sun or shade) Anything that blooms this early is definitely on my must plant list!
ReplyDeleteThis gardener doesn't know much about them...I don't even know anyone that has one. I have hear of "Lenten Rose" or Christmas Rose" though. They almost look like Camelia's-same family? Wonder if Texas is too hot for them? Hum...does this go on my wish list??
ReplyDeleteHi Tina, what a great choice. It is a guess that the older gardener may not have known this plant since they were not really written about much until about ten years ago. I had been told they were very hard to propagate and can vouch for growing them from purchased seed, so far failure. But somehow out in the garden they self sow like mad, given enough time. But the results can be varied in color from those volunteers. I think the tissue cloning has been improved, hence the new named varieties and bigger push by nurseries. Les mentioned a huge plus, they are not eaten by critters. They are always on the deer resistant plant lists.
ReplyDeleteFrances
Hi Tina .. I love my lonely Orientalis ? cultivar .. it is amazing especially that the foliage stays so good even in our worst hot humid summer weather .. I have to get more of these gorgeous plants !!
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Everyone,
ReplyDeleteI hope all have a lovely day.
This is a great post Tina. I've heard of these magnificent plants but do not have them in my garden. I fear it may be too hot for them here but would like to try them anyway. Do they come in different colors?
Well, I'm one among those ignorants, Tina, but I'm not familiar with almost all of your plants and am learning quite a lot through your Plant of the Month posts. Thank you soooo much!
ReplyDeleteHi Tina, A perfect choice for this month! Hellebores are lighting up my garden right now and I have a few new guys to add to the mix. They have only been here at C&L for the last 4 years...and they are self sewing like mad. None are large enough to produce flowers but it will be interesting to see the offspring.
ReplyDeletegail
Tina, I am one of those who doesn't have any hellebores in my garden, but that will be remedied this year--I just ordered 5 plants. After seeing them on several blogs last spring and hearing everyone rave about them, they were the first on my plant "wish list."
ReplyDeleteHi all,
ReplyDeleteJan, Great advice for other southern readers.
Janet, They are well worth finding a space. Good plants.
Dawn, They might grow up there too.
Les, I hope it works, once the word is out on these gems there'll be a run on them. I like your picture.
Racquel, You must get them. Plant them under your Limelight and you'll be most happy. They would probably want some shade in your zone, but can also take some sun too. I like your new picture.
Linda, I would think they could grow in Texas. They are quite drought tolerant but would need some shade. Maybe by your oak? The Bradford pear may overwhelm them.
Frances, I love these. I tried the Christmas rose with complete failure. These new hybrids are great. I hope for self seeding-it's that time thing again.
Joy, I think the botanical name has been changed but most still call them Oriental hellebores. Works for me. You need to get yours some buddies:)
Lola, They grow to Zone 9 so maybe? Not sure. They would surely need some shade. Fun plants.
Chandramouli, I was wondering about these standard postings. I like them but sometimes it is a bit too regimented for me. You should have these same plants in your part of the world. I remember in Germany they had all of these. Hellebores are wonderful-if you find them grab them up right away.
Gail, I am coveting your seedlings-I haven't had any and my hellebores have been here a while. Maybe this year is the trick. Stay dry today. Rainy here.
Rose, Great! You will truly love them. They bloom so long and look good pretty much all year. There is a very wide variety too.
ReplyDeleteHellebores are on my wish list. Maybe this year. I saw a bearclaw hellebore at a garden recently. It was stunning.
ReplyDeleteCameron
Thanks for the info Tina, they are definitely on my must add list along with a Camelia! :)
ReplyDeleteThey are a pretty little plant, Tina! They aren't grown much here--I don't know why. Do they withstand dry conditions?
ReplyDeleteI was hoping the lenten roses I got last year at the plant swap would have done something by now but no. I'll just have to keep waiting, yours look great!
ReplyDeleteI am new to them as well. Deer and bunny will not eat them, Hey I am game to try them in our shade by the silver berrys. What do you think? Would that be a good spot? They may get some late afternoon sun though not too much....
ReplyDeleteCameron, They are great and do well under shrubs and other perennials-in a bit of shade.
ReplyDeleteRacquel, You bet!
Susan, I am not sure whey they aren't grown so much in Texas. They should do quite well there though. Many of the same plants I grow I see on the Texan blogs. Hellebores actually withstand dry conditions pretty well. Mine are under a cedar tree and get no additional watering. The trick is to provide some shade. I know you have some with those wonderful pecans so they should work for you.
Dave, It does take time to get them established and going. Give it some time and it will grow for you.
Skeeter, I would put them where I could enjoy them up close-in your front bed by the J. maples would be much better. These you want to be able to see up close and personal. The silverberries are too far away. The bonus with these are they are evergreen and will bloom for a good 3-4 months. At least the flowers stay that long, probably not blooming that long but it's the same to me.
Actually, I was beginning to feel like the only gardenener who *didn't* have hellebores. Now I have a couple of seedlings from a trade, and if they made it through the winter (they were very small), I'll probably end up with a lot of them.
ReplyDeleteNiche Gardens is now selling H. niger. Hmmm...
Sweetbay, You will love your new hellebores. I bet they'll do well for you. I loved the Niche garden plants you got-so wonderful! One word of caution on the Niger Hellebores, I had no luck with them and found them to be a bit picky. They all perished a rather quick death too.
ReplyDeleteTina, I may take your advise and try one or two. I usually stay away from plants that don't tolerate drought well but you never know how plants will work out until you try them in your own garden. I love that pink shade.
ReplyDeleteMarnie
It wont be long before the hellebore is #1. Last year i hosted a hellebore co op with Pine Knot Farms. I ended up needing 20 flats of hellebores. I bought 1 and half flats for myself! i cant wait to get back to MI and see how they are doing.
ReplyDeleteThey are gorgeous and blooming right after your ice and snow so I'd say they are a great plant to have.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting very psyched about the start of Hellebore season here. I've got buds on my H. niger, but they probably won't start blooming for a couple of weeks. I live in fear that I will be become a Hellebore collector. They are all just so wonderful.
ReplyDeleteActually I have just recently heard of the hellebores and I love them. Can't find them around here and I want one.
ReplyDeleteMarnie, They do pretty well with drought-not fussy at all, just give them a bit of shade.
ReplyDeleteFlwrgirl, You must miss your flowers very much, but I bet your hellebores will still look good when you get back.
Mom, They are good and will grow well in your garden. We need to get you some. Finally cleaned the birds' cage this morning-yuck! Almost worse than doing the rabbits.
MMD, Spring is nearly here! Won't be long now.
Darla, It may be that it is too hot down there; which is too bad since they are so nice. But you have plenty of fun plants already too-those pansies look great.
Tina, I shouldn't admit this, but before I started blogging last year and seeing these on different blogs in the spring, I had never heard of them. Anything that beautiful, will bloom early and long, and isn't picky about soil or water needs to be in my garden. :}
ReplyDeletethey are so beautyful and so lovely, we have the same in the garden...have a good time !!kathrin
ReplyDeleteTina, I agree. In fact my plan is to go and buy some today. I saw some really nice ones yesterday and have decided I need to go back and get a couple.
ReplyDeleteTina, I came to know about hellebores only on Blotanical. Sounds and looks good too! I'm most impressed with the blooming period. Feb to May is amazing! Great choice for February.
ReplyDeleteIt's so weird that I never had these in my various Midwest gardens. I can see now what I was missing. They probably would have done especially well where we lived in West Kentucky. And I had plenty of shade there, which, I am sad to say, is not so plentiful here--yet. Can you also propagate these plants by division?
ReplyDeleteBeckie, They will love your garden as much as you'll love them too. And like Frances said, they have only recently gotten a lot of attention.
ReplyDeleteKathrin, Great! Glad to hear it! These are super flowers as you know.
Catherine, They are wonderful plants and yes, do jump on one or two. A good bit of advice I can give too is to wait until the plants go on sale-they will-and pick up a ton at bargain prices. I got mature plants here at Lowes for $2 a piece-I thought a steal.
Kanak, Yes they are very good plants. Do you grow them in your area? Or have you heard of them? Kathrin (Germany) has them there I was just wondering your area too.
W2W, They would have done awesomely in Kentucky and Illinois. Not sure about your area in Florida but maybe. I think they are difficult to divide and most get more by seedlings-crossing my fingers for some this year. But sometimes you can find them at bargain prices.
Hi Tina, it is certainly a lovely flower. I only have one Hellebores in my garden and that is a green one, very exotic looking I think a prefer the pink or the white ones. I now that I've learned that the deers and rabbits don't eat them I definitely will get some more.
ReplyDeleteVery nice Tina/ Tyra
They're gorgeous. I know about them but don't have any. That definitely needs to change. I've actually tried them several times but for some reason, my dog likes them too. Not to eat, to lift his leg on. So another location (outside his reach) must be found for they are too expensive to keep losing in that manner. Great choice for February!
ReplyDeleteWah! I don't have any hellebore's yet. But I sure want some!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorites too Ms. Tina. And have you ever heard tell of "Barry Glick aka Glicksterus maximus aka The Cyber-Plantsman?" If not, you must see his hybridized selections of the Lenten Rose: http://www.sunfarm.com/plantlist/hellebores_main.phtml
ReplyDeleteTyra, I've seen the green ones-love em!
ReplyDeleteKathleen, Bad ole doggie-might want to direct him to a fake fire hydrant in the backyard:)
MsRobin, Definitely need to get you some-soon-no crying allowed in the garden-only tears of joy:)
TC, I've bookmarked that website. I love the hellebores and do need some more varieties-these are just the ticket.
Nice Hellebore photos. These are great plants. I had one but the squirrels eat that plant too. I keep hoping that eagle will move into the trees in the back and starting eating squirrel. I think I will be looking for a new one this spring, maybe Helleborus purpurascens or the fine leaved Helleborus foetidus.
ReplyDeletenice choice, even if I could be added to the list of those who do not have them in the garden, even though I live close by to Burpee's Mecca.
ReplyDeleteHi Tina, hellebores are wonderful plants! I had them on my 'list' for years and finally got my first one last spring. It was in bloom when I got it, and the blooms lasted until FALL! It must have been a fluke! I ordered two more of different varieties for this spring.
ReplyDeleteDo you cut the old foliage back on yours? If so when do you do it? Do they only bloom on new growth?
Oh, count me in for the hellebore fan club! I was VERY EXCITED to hear commenters saying that they self-sow 'like mad' after a while. Yahoo! At $20 a pop from many nurseries, I rationalized my orders with that promise of self-sowing. Thanks for the pix - the white one I already have has been encased in snow and won't bloom for a while, I'm afraid. - VW
ReplyDeleteDan, Here's to hoping the eagle moves in and takes care of your squirrel problem. They are pesky little critters.
ReplyDeleteWayne, These would be fun for the classroom as their seeds are so big-very interesting to watch them grow and understand the process.
Linda, Aren't they great?! Yes, they bloom on new growth. Now is generally the time to cut them back. The leaves only so make sure you look below and don't cut the new growth. They can bloom a very long time if they are most happy-these are super plants. More varieties are always a treat-enjoy yours!
VW, Sometimes you can find these guys on sale-I got six at $2 a piece! What a steal! Only because I knew what they were since they weren't labeled. You'd think the big box stores would train its nursery workers-it'd be to their advantage. Anyhow, yes with time they do self sow though mine have had a few years and not so many babies here. Sigh. Maybe this will be the year for me and you too! Just loved your post today.
I'm not sure if I'd knew about hellebores before my sister bought a house I love, with a yard I downright covet. She is not as experienced, or generous a gardener as I am. She plans on giving me some of the thousands of coneflowers she has, but when I asked for a start of a few helebores, she said they don't spread like other plants, and she can't dig any up. She has a whole bunch of them, too, but I'll just have to find some somewhere, because I fell in love with them when I saw hers.
ReplyDeleteYours are lovely, and I heartily agree with them being your plant of the month, but it's a bit early for them here, though.
Do you know that I don't have a single Hellebore in my garden? Each winter I think I'll get some but haven't yet. Mainly because I haven't found the color I want. I need to look at a nursery rather than the box stores.
ReplyDeleteI think Hellebores like to keep a low profile. All a passing gardener sees is the back of its head as each flower looks down at the ground (lol).
ReplyDeleteIf you didn't know better you would think them dull looking plants.
Hi Tina,
ReplyDeleteI just wrote this response on my blog to your comment. But just in case you don't see it there...
Yes, I am a professional photographer. My business is primarily graphic design (print mostly---annual reports, newsletters, magazines, etc.), but about 30% of my business is photography-related. I don't sell many of my nature shots (that's about to change, I'm hoping!), but I do get to use them in some of my design work---particularly for the American Horticultural Society.
Thank you so much for your assessment. I really appreciate the feedback! I'll do a little search and find out what kind of hydrangea that is. I'm good with some flower names, but I have a long way to go to match a horticulturist's saavy with such!
On my main blog (www.cindydyer.wordpress.com), you'll find other subjects (not just gardening, although in gardening season, I become a woman obsessed). Take a look when you have the time. In the archives you'll find portraits, travel, critters and general musings.
Cindy
www.cindydyer.wordpress.com
www.gardenmuse.wordpress.com
I finally planted them this year and am wondering what took me so long to discover them. It already has a bud on in - maybe will be my first flower of the year!
ReplyDelete