Plant
of the Month
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March 2004
Hellebores
by Jane
Sterndale-Bennett
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Helleborus niger
taken on Christmas Day 2003
© Mrs. Jane Sterndale-Bennett
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Hellebores have slowly been gaining a leading role
as flowers to enhance a winter garden, and are becoming
increasingly popular and readily available. The hybrid
forms of H. orientalis and the related species
are being developed by modern nurserymen and gardeners,
so that the colour range is widening, and ever more
attractive combinations of spotting on the inside of
the flower cups and contrasting colours are appearing.
More and more doubles are coming onto the scene, and
even they have spots and darker stains on the petals.
In the rush to acquire the new cultivars, I am always
worried that some of delightful species are being neglected,
and few gardeners are growing them. I have to admit
to being passionate about all hellebores, and I suppose
not every gardener will find the pale-green flowers
of H. viridis inspiring. Last year, I was very
pleased to see this hellebore growing naturally in the
wild in Hampshire, considering there are fewer and fewer
locations left. I was very fortunate indeed, to see
it growing abundantly, on a damp wooded slope amongst
moss and leaf litter with the soft green flowers showing
up well against the darker foliage. Some flowers even
had a hint of red staining at the base of the petaloid
sepals.
Fortunately, the Christmas Rose, Helleborus niger,
has always been treasured by gardeners; perhaps due
to its evocative name. It is not always easy to get
it in flower on Christmas Day but early flowering clones
have appeared recently, and I have a fine clump growing
close to my front door.
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Helleborus dumetorum
with Galanthus 'S.Arnott'
© Mrs. Jane Sterndale-Bennett
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My most treasured hellebore is the baby of the family,
Helleborus dumetorum. I was given a small plant
ten years ago, and it has slowly been building up in
size, growing in a sheltered spot beneath an old brick
wall. By chance, I planted a dozen bulbs of the vigorous
snowdrop, Galanthus 'S. Arnott' behind the hellebore
and they make an enchanting combination when both in
flower, the luminous small green flowers of the hellebore
glowing beneath the pure white snowdrops. H. dumetorum
has fine foliage too, with bright green leaves split
into many segments. I grow the dainty fern with the
black stems, Adiantum pedatum, behind the snowdrop,
and again there is a fine contrast between the hellebore
leaves and the delicate fern.
There are other species to use in the garden: H.
multifidus subsp. multifidus grows into a
large clump of arching leaves so finely divided, they
look like a fern. Indeed you can go one better and grow
the other subspeces. H. m. hercegovinus where
each leaflet can be split into almost 50 sections. This
is very slow to grow but worth the wait. I do have to
admit that the flowers are not particularly attractive
in this species, and they have a strange smell. On the
other hand, the Corsican hellebore, H. argutifolius,
has handsome toothed leaves and very pretty clusters
of palest creamy-green flowers with a burst of stamens
in the centre. If the old flower stems are removed when
they finish flowering you have a fine stand of new leaves
to decorate the garden for the rest of the season.
The species that is often taken for granted is the
unfortunately named stinking hellebore, H. foetidus.
This can be planted to enliven a shady bank or neglected
corner when the pendulous clusters of small green cups,
often rimmed with red, flower in the winter months.
The leaves are a curious dark leaden green; a perfect
contrast for the pale apple green of the flowers.
I hope I have encouraged a few more gardeners to grow
some of the hellebore species as well as the brightly
coloured cultivars.
Visit our special
Hellebore feature to find out more about this much loved
group of plants in the family Ranunculaceae.
Contributor
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 Jane
Sterndale-Bennett has been a passionate
gardener for over 30 years with a particular
regard for hardy perennials. In 1980 she
moved from London to Hampshire and started
the garden at White Windows, just north
of Winchester. At the same time she joined
the Hardy Plant Society and finally became
the Chairman of the Society from 1996 to
2001. She is also involved with the National
Council for the Conservation of Plants and
Gardens and holds part of the National Hellebore
Collection in Hampshire.
The garden has been open to the public
for many years through the National Gardens
Scheme and it has featured in books, magazines
and on TV. Jane has also written about the
garden in magazines and she is a member
of the Garden Writers' Guild.
Jane lectures extensively both at home
and abroad and has been to France, Ireland,
Canada, Japan and New Zealand. She is a
keen photographer and illustrates her lectures
with her own slides.
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Photo Credits
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All photos courtesy of Mrs. Jane Sterndale-Bennett
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