Thursday, February 2, 2012

Hellebores

By Mary Jo Baur


I went out into my garden on February 1 and found that my hellebore has 10 clusters of buds!  This plant, also known as the Lenten rose, is very early to bloom in our area, but I think our mild winter has made the buds come out even earlier than usual.  This is an easy perennial to grow.  It likes partial shade and evenly moist soil which is well-drained.  These plants take a year or 2 to establish themselves and do not like to be moved.  They rarely need to be divided.  There are many hybrids and they are available in many colors from creamy white, through shades of pink, deeper maroon and my plant has lime green flowers.  When I planted mine, I forgot that there were some crocuses in that spot, so now every spring I have purple crocus emerging through the leaves of the hellebore plant.  It wasn't planned, but it works.  Sometimes you just live with your gardening mistakes and enjoy them.

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