Position in the garden

In the garden Hellebores will grow best if they receive shade for most of the day from the hot summer sun. Growth and flowering will be improved if the plants receive at least some sun in winter, so a position under deciduous trees or where winter sun can reach them is ideal. This positioning under or near to deciduous shade is probably the single most important part of successfully growing Hellebores. Placing Hellebores where they get very little light in winter, for example under evergreen trees/shrubs is the most common mistake people make when positioning Hellebores.

Hellebores are tolerant of most soil types and soil pH also does not seem to be an issue for them. The main exception is very sandy soils where Hellebores usually struggle. Hellebores do require good drainage and do not like water logged conditions.

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Climate

Hellebores are temperate climate plants, requiring cool to cold winters to flower. In terms of climate, anywhere in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Eastern and Western Cape, and the Freestate is suitable. Inland higher altitude areas in KZN which experience cold winters are well suited to growing Hellebores. Hellebores are not suited to semi-tropical areas such as Durban or the Eastcoast. In the Western Cape the more temperate climates of the Garden Route are fine for Hellebores.

Summer heat is not a problem as long as conditions are not too humid and they are in shade. Hellebores are not troubled by frost or snow.

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Planting

They grow best in a rich, well drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Hellebores do not like excessively wet or water-logged conditions. Prepare the ground by digging deeply (to help that big root system get going) and if possible incorporate some organic matter in the form of compost prior to planting. If the roots are looking a bit congested (hard to avoid for us when growing them in pots as they put on so much root growth), then loosen the roots a little prior to planting.

Water the plants in well. Please note that plants may need some additional watering over their first summer in the garden, depending on conditions. We usually find that in subsequent summers, they become quite drought tolerant.

Hellebores are best grown in-ground rather than in pots. Plants in pots will need more water over summer and regular annual feeding.

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Maintenance

Mid to late autumn into early winter (April to June) is the start of the annual growth period for most Hellebores, depending a bit on climate and season. This is the best time to do most of the annual maintenance jobs on your Hellebores: feeding and cleaning up old foliage, moving if necessary.

By this time of the year the old foliage will be looking a bit tatty and new growth can be seen pushing up from the base of the plant. Once you see new growth on your Helleborus you can safely cut back old foliage right to the ground, before the plant flowers. This is not essential but does clean up the plant and show off the flowers better.

Late autumn is also the time to feed your Hellebores. Any type of complete fertiliser is suitable – liquid, powder or pellets – as long as it contains the three main nutrient elements (N, P and K). As with other members of the Ranunculaceae family (eg. Clematis, Delphiniums) Hellebores will take quite a lot of feeding. A sprinkling of dolomite lime will be appreciated by Hellebores as well (for the calcium and magnesium rather than any effect on soil pH).

All Hellebores will appreciate mulching in spring before the heat of summer sets in. Some additional summer watering will usually be necessary until plants become fully established.

Spent flowers can be removed prior to seed dropping in mid-spring if you don’t want lots of seedlings popping up the following winter. It is a good idea to thin out/remove such seedlings to prevent plants becoming over crowded which could cause them to flower less.

Watch for aphids as the weather warms up in spring. Use whatever pesticide you prefer, but be prepared for multiple applications.

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Using Hellebores in the garden

Helleborus, or Winter Roses, are one of the stars of the Winter Garden.  When few other garden plants are at their best, Hellebores are in full growth and providing plenty of flower power in the cold Winter months.
The growth cycle of Hellebores is the opposite of many plants.  Hellebores kick into growth in Autumn, flower during Winter and put on lots of new leafy growth in late Winter to early Spring.
To use Hellebores most effectively in the garden they require some protection from the hot summer sun. The ideal position for Hellebores is planted under or near deciduous tree canopies or larger shrubs.
Hellebores look their best when planted en masse rather than as isolated plants. A good sized drift of Hellebores planted as a ground cover under deciduous trees will look wonderful year round. Hellebores lend themselves to an informal planting style, rather than being used as ‘straightline’ type plants.