Hellebores: the Winter Rose

Hellebores (Helleborus spp.), AKA ‘Winter Roses’, provide enchanting colour in a shaded winter garden. They're perennial plants often grown under tree canopies, in pots or in sheltered courtyards where they receive filtered light. Despite the Winter Rose name, hellebores aren't related to the rose family at all. In fact, they're members of Ranunculaceae, the buttercup family.

Hellebores were associated in Mediaeval folklore with witches; it's easy to see why when you see their deep, dark gothic blooms popping out of the shadows - they're a bewitching display!

Available in a range of colours from creamy white through to delicate pastel pinks into deep vibrant magentas, there's certain to be one that'll put a spell on you.

They're a delight during the cooler months of the year, putting on a prolific display of large, bell shaped flowers right throughout winter and into early spring.

Hellebore ‘Ruby Daydream’ (pictured above) is a spectacular hellebore from Living Fashion. It has stunning dark claret blooms that sit above the foliage.

Growing to around 50 cm high and 60 cm wide it flowers for many months and looks wonderful when massed planted in a shady garden bed. Despite having a delicate appearance, it’s a hardy plant that is both dry and frost tolerant.

'Ruby Daydream' can also be planted in a container, creating a beautiful outdoor table centrepiece or winter courtyard focal point. Potted hellebores can also be brought indoors for a few days at a time to show off their flowers.

Growing Tips:

Trim off spent flower stems to keep plants looking tidy and promote further flowers.
Feed hellebores every six to eight weeks during periods of new foliage growth and flowering with Yates Thrive Natural Roses & Flowers Granular Plant Food to promote both healthy foliage growth and lots of beautiful flowers.
Regular applications of Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food will also nurture and improve the soil and encourage earthworms and beneficial soil microorganisms.