Hellebore

The hellebore plant (Helleborus) is a low herbaceous bush from the Buttercup family. This genus includes over 20 species. In their natural environment, hellebores live in European mountain areas, but also occur in Asia Minor. Many hellebores grow in the Balkans.

For Europeans, this flower is closely associated with the holiday of Christmas. His potted bush is considered one of the traditional Christmas gifts. In nature, many species of hellebore bloom in the middle of winter - just during the Christmas season. According to one of the legends, such flowers surrounded the cave in which Christ was born. According to another, they appeared from the tears of a little Bethlehem caregiver, who had nothing to present as a gift to the newborn Savior. It was these flowers that became his gift. Europeans call the plant "Christ's Rose". According to legends, it is able to protect from the evil eye. In Russia, the flower is also known as the "winter house".

Description of hellebore

The height of hellebore bushes ranges from 20 to 50 cm. They have a small strong rhizome and almost no branching stem. In the root area, leathery leaf blades are located on long petioles, which can have different shapes. Flowers, similar to small bowls, are found at the top of a long peduncle. Their "petals" are multi-colored sepals. The true hellebore petals are tubular nectaries located closer to the center of the calyx. The color of the flowers includes tones of white, yellow, pink, as well as purple and violet flowers. There are flowers of complex colors with color transitions, as well as double varieties. Due to the fact that the sepals provide the decorative effect to the flowers, the wilting of the hellebore occurs gradually. The flower calyx acquires a green color over time, often retaining its beautiful shape for some time after the seeds ripen and erupt. Seeds remain viable for less than a year. Hellebore flowers can be used for cutting as well as for creating dry bouquets.

The hellebore is valued for its early flowering, as well as frost resistance and unpretentiousness. Its flowers bloom while all other plants are still sleeping - from late autumn to mid-spring, sometimes appearing right among the snow. But, like all representatives of buttercups, this flower is considered poisonous. Gloves should be worn when working with it, and cut off sections of bushes should be destroyed to prevent poisoning. At the same time, the substances contained in the rhizomes of the plant make it possible to use it as a medicine, but such treatment can be practiced only under strict control and as prescribed by a doctor.

All types of flowers are divided into two main groups. Some of them form stems with flower buds by autumn. For them to bloom, the shoots must survive the winter. When freezing in the spring, the bushes can re-release foliage, but the flowers cannot be seen. Such species should be closed, especially in case of a snowless winter. Other hellebores do not form flower shoots in autumn, but in spring.They tolerate winter easier and grow better in regions of the middle lane.

Brief rules for growing hellebore

The table shows brief rules for growing a hellebore in the open field.

Planting a hellebore in open ground

Time to board

Freezers are able to grow in one place without transplanting for at least 10 years. The bushes do not perceive the transplantation procedure well, so you should immediately choose the most suitable site for them. Shrubs prefer moist and loose clay soil of a neutral reaction. To avoid stagnation of moisture in the soil, you should take care of the drainage layer.

Hellebore grows best in the shade of trees or bushes. Placement in open areas is also possible, but in such places the bushes will need more moisture. The hellebore is planted in the ground in mid-spring or early autumn. Such plantings look most effective in small groups.

In the garden, hellebores are planted in partial shade, combined with other shade-loving plants. They will look no less impressive in combination with bulbous primroses. The hellebore blooms later than the snowdrops, but at the same time as crocuses and forest trees. When they disappear from sight, hellebore bushes still continue to delight the eye, and their foliage remains until the very end of the season.

Landing rules

For planting hellebore, pits are prepared with a depth and width of up to 30 cm. The same distance is maintained between plants. The wells are half filled with compost, then the roots of the bush are placed there and gradually sprinkled with earth. After compaction of the soil, the planting is watered. Hellebores will especially need moisture for the first 3 weeks after planting. In the future, the volume of irrigation is reduced.

Hellebore bushes can also be grown at home, using them for forcing. Usually black hellebore varieties are chosen for this. Since autumn, the rhizomes are planted in pots with nutritious soil and placed in a bright and cool room. While maintaining a constant level of humidity throughout the winter, flowers will bloom on the flower buds formed by autumn. In the spring, these bushes are transplanted from a pot to a shady place in the garden.

Hellebore care

Hellebore care is very simple. In the first 15-20 days after planting, young plants need abundant and frequent soil moisture. In the future, watering will be required in smaller volumes, but regularly. In hot weather, the bushes need to not only be watered periodically, but also to loosen the soil and pull out weeds. Weeds practically do not appear next to the overgrown bushes - dense plantings with large foliage do not allow them to break through.

The hellebore needs additional nutrition in the form of fertilizers, which must be applied twice during the summer season. The first time complex mineral fertilizers are applied, the second time bone meal is introduced into the soil.

In autumn or spring, before flowering, old foliage is removed from the bush. Although the leaf blades of most varieties can overwinter under snow, they can be affected by fungal spotting. The exception is black hellebore. Its leaves retain their decorative appearance in winter.

After flowering, the bush will release fresh shoots.When the flowers wither, the soil near the plantings is mulched with decomposed peat or compost. Mulch is applied in the area around the plants. In addition, this mulch will serve as a good top dressing.

Hellebore after flowering

Seed collection

Hellebore seeds begin to ripen by June, but this process can drag on for the whole summer. It is important to choose the right moment for collection, otherwise the box of seeds will burst, spilling them on the ground. In order not to lose the necessary seeds, a cloth bag should be put on the unripe boxes. When the box opens, it will be enough to simply remove and shake it. The resulting seeds are dried in a dry and ventilated place, and then tidied up in a paper bag. But it is impossible to store such seed for a long time: the seeds retain their germination for only a short period of time, and it is recommended to sow them immediately after collection.

Wintering

The hellebore lives up to its name. The flower is very resistant to a significant drop in temperatures, but in winters with little snow it can still freeze out. Young plants are especially susceptible to this. To prevent freezing of plantings, you should cover the beds with spruce branches or dry fallen leaves.

Hellebore breeding methods

You can get new hellebore bushes using seeds or dividing bushes. Some species (for example, M. smelly) can produce self-seeding.

For seedlings, seeds are sown after harvest, at the very end of June. They are placed in containers filled with moist soil, including humus. The seeds are buried by 1.5 cm. Seedlings will appear only next spring - around March. For germination, they require a mandatory alternation of warm and cold periods.

If the seeds were purchased in a store, they can be sown in the ground at least 2.5 months before the onset of cold weather. During this period, the seeds will have time to "accumulate" heat, and then germinate next spring. If fresh seeds were purchased closer to autumn, they can be sown for seedlings at home using peat soil with the addition of sand (3: 1). They should spend about 3 months in a warm place (about 20 degrees), and then the crops are moved to the refrigerator (about 4 degrees). There, in 1-3 months, the seeds will begin to germinate. The seed container should be checked regularly for mold and the soil should be moistened periodically. Seeds cannot be stored dry.

After the appearance of 2-4 full-fledged leaves, the sprouts dive for growing in a garden bed located in a shady place. Such seedlings are moved to their final place only after 2-3 years - in April or at the very beginning of autumn. Older bushes will tolerate transplanting worse. The hellebore blooms in 2-5 years of cultivation, depending on the characteristics of the variety. Moreover, in a year after transplanting, when the bush adapts to a new place, it may not bloom.

Plants at least 5 years old are suitable for the propagation of hellebore by dividing the bush. After the end of spring flowering, the bushes need to be dug up and the rhizomes must be carefully divided into several parts. Places of cuts should be sprinkled with charcoal or activated charcoal, after which the cuttings can be immediately planted on a flower garden or flower bed in prepared planting holes. Some species of hellebore, for example "Vostochny", are propagated by dividing the bush in autumn.

Pests and diseases

The hellebore is resistant to the effects of diseases or pests, but improper care or the wrong planting site can weaken the plant's immunity. When placing bushes, it is important to observe the acidity of the soil necessary for them. To calculate this indicator, you can use indicators or run a simple test. A teaspoon of earth is poured onto a dark glass, and then table vinegar is added to it. The amount of foam will indicate the acidity level. If there is a lot of it, the soil is alkaline. The average indicators indicate the neutrality of the soil, and the complete absence of foam indicates its acidity. A neutral or slightly calcareous soil is best for planting hellebore.To correct the discrepancy, slaked lime, wood ash or dolomite flour are added to the acidic soil.

Hellebore foliage often attracts gastropod pests such as snails or slugs. They can be collected from plantings by hand or traps can be used. Sometimes mice attack the hellebore, in this case the poison will help. The flower can also be harmed by insects: aphids or caterpillars that eat foliage. An appropriate insecticide is used against them: Actellik, Biotlin, etc. It is important to notice the appearance of harmful insects in a timely manner and take appropriate measures: pests can contribute to the spread of diseases. For example, aphids tolerate spotting. The affected parts of the bushes should be destroyed, and then all plantings and the soil around them should be treated with a fungicidal agent.

Too damp and warm summers can cause the development of infectious diseases. Fungal lesions appear in dark spots on the leaf blades and, when neglected, lead to the death of plantings. Diseased leaves should be removed as soon as stains are found. Sometimes the entire aerial part of the bush is cut off in order to preserve its rhizome.

Brownish-black spots with subtle rings on the foliage are a sign of anthracnose. The diseased plates are burned, and the bush is treated with a copper-based preparation.

If the hellebore foliage has slowed down its growth, and the old plates are deformed and covered with dark spots, the bushes are struck by downy mildew. At the same time, there will be a gray bloom on the seamy side of the leaves. Foliage with such signs is cut off, and the bush and the surrounding area are treated with Pervikur or copper oxychloride.

Viral infections usually affect the divisions that did not have time to take root. At the same time, parts of the bushes begin to deform, and the foliage becomes smaller. Such plants will have to be removed in order to prevent mass infection.

Types and varieties of hellebore with photos and names

Among the types of hellebore most commonly found in gardens:

Black hellebore (Helleborus niger)

The species is considered one of the most common. Helleborus niger lives in European countries, preferring mountain forests. The height of the bushes is about 30 cm. The flowers, unlike many other species, are directed upwards. Their diameter reaches 8 cm. The flowers are on large peduncles up to 60 cm high. The inner side of the “petals” is painted white, and the outer side is pale pink, gradually becoming brighter. Flowering is fairly short-lived: only a couple of weeks in April. The dense leathery surface of the leaf plates is dark green in color. The foliage of such a hellebore calmly tolerates the winter: the flower can withstand a cold snap to -35 degrees. Gardeners have been growing this hellebore since the Middle Ages. Sometimes this species is crossed with less cold-resistant flower varieties - including Nigristern and Nigerkors. Popular varieties include:

• Potters Will - with especially large (up to 12 cm) white flowers.
• Pracox - flowering occurs in autumn. The flowers are pale pink.
• HGC Joshua - an autumn-flowering variety.

Caucasian hellebore (Helleborus caucasicus)

This species grows not only in the Caucasus, it can also be found in Greece and Turkey. Helleborus caucasicus has leathery leaves up to 15 cm long. They are divided into several segments, their number may vary. The maximum height of the peduncles reaches half a meter. White-greenish or yellow-green flowers with brown blotches are formed on them. Their diameter reaches 8 cm. Flowers appear at the very end of April and last for about 1.5 months. This species is considered the most frost-resistant, but at the same time the most poisonous. It has been used in horticulture since the 19th century.

Abkhaz hellebore (Helleborus abchasicus)

The bushes of Helleborus abchasicus have bare leaves with a leathery surface. They are attached to long petioles that are purple in color, sometimes with a green tint. The flowers are drooping, red-claret, up to 8 cm wide. Sometimes sepals are supplemented with specks of a darker shade.Flowering occurs in April and lasts 1.5 months. This hellebore has a number of garden forms.

Eastern hellebore (Helleborus orientalis)

The species lives in the regions of Greece and Turkey, as well as in the Caucasus. Helleborus orientalis forms bushes up to 30 cm tall. The flowers are purple in color, and their diameter reaches 5 cm. The species is considered unstable to fungal diseases: they often affect the foliage of the plant. Moreover, such a hellebore has many decorative varieties, including:

• Blue Anemone - with light purple flowers.
• Lady Series - variety series, including 6 different colors. Peduncles reach 40 cm, and the plants themselves are distinguished by rapid growth rates.
• Rock and Roll - the petals are decorated with red-pink specks.
• White Swan - with snow-white flowers.

Stinking hellebore (Helleborus foetidus)

Western European view. Helleborus foetidus has leafy stems up to 30 cm high. This plant prefers to grow on slopes or in fairly light woodlands. The foliage consists of narrow lobes of rich green color. Peduncles are very high - up to 80 cm. Small flowers-bells of a pale green color with a brown border bloom on them. It is noteworthy that they have no smell, despite the name of the species. This hellebore tolerates drought periods and appreciates calcareous soils. Common variety - Wester Flix - has even narrower leaf segments, and the peduncles are colored reddish-green.

Corsican hellebore (Helleborus argutifolius)

The species lives on the islands of Sardinia and Corsica. Helleborus argutifolius forms an evergreen shrub up to 75 cm high. It consists of several straight shoots spreading in breadth. The flowers are bowl-shaped and greenish-yellow in color. They are collected in cluster inflorescences. At home, flowering begins in February, and when grown in more northern regions, in April. To preserve such a hellebore in mid-latitudes, a small shelter will be required for the winter. Of the varieties, Grunspecht with red-green flowers.

Reddish hellebore (Helleborus purpurascens)

The species lives in the southeast of Europe. Helleborus purpurascens grows on forest edges and among bushes. Large basal foliage is located on long petioles and has a finger-dissected structure. From the outside, the leaf blade is smooth and green, and from the inside it has a bluish tint. The flowers are drooping, up to 4 cm wide. Their unusual color (purple-violet color gradually changing to green) is combined with an unpleasant specific odor. Flowering occurs in mid-spring and lasts about a month. The species has been grown in the gardens since the middle of the 19th century.

Hybrid hellebore (Helleborus x hybridus)

This species includes garden hybrids obtained by crossing other plant species. Helleborus x hybridus has flowers 5 to 8 cm in diameter. Their color can be varied. Main varieties:

• Belinda - with white double flowers with a greenish-pink tint and border.
• Violet - there is pubescence in the center of the flower, the “petals” are supplemented with veins and a pink border.
• Queen of the Knight - flowers of deep purple color with yellow stamens.

In addition to the listed hellebores, the following species can also be found in culture:

• Fragrant - with wintering foliage and green flowers with a pleasant aroma.
• Green - with non-wintering leaves and greenish-gray flowers with red markings.
• Shrub - with yellow-green flowers, devoid of smell.
• Multipartite - Yugoslavian type with foliage in the form of a fan. The flowers are small, greenish yellow.
• Tibetan - with white or pink flowers.
• Stern - with pinkish-green flowers.

The use of hellebore and its properties

Black and Caucasian hellebores are often used by traditional healers. The properties of these plants allow you to normalize the body's metabolism, lower blood pressure, as well as blood sugar levels.In addition, parts of the plant can have a diuretic and laxative effect. The hellebore also has an antibacterial effect. The plant is used for the occurrence of polyps, as well as for the removal of stones in the bladder or gallbladder.

The healing effect of hellebores is used in the fight against cancer: the flower is able to affect tumors in the early stages of their appearance. The hellebore will strengthen the immune system, help to cope with colds, stomach ulcers, migraines, sciatica, rheumatism, joint diseases and osteochondrosis. In addition, it cleanses the blood, strengthens the heart and blood vessels. The flower will also help those who want to lose weight. Its use helps to remove toxins and excess fluid from the body. The substances contained in the hellebore break down fats and accelerate metabolic processes. It is not necessary to follow a strict diet.

Having decided to prepare a healing composition based on hellebore, it is important to remember that the roots of this plant are poisonous. The procurement of raw materials is carried out after the ripening of the flower seeds, in September. The roots are washed, cleaning them with a stiff brush, then divided into parts and dried in a dryer at a temperature of about 40-45 degrees. The properties of such raw materials are preserved for 2 years. It is used to prepare decoctions, infusions or powder.

Before using any flower-based product, you need to know about a number of contraindications. You cannot be treated with hellebore if you have problems with the liver or cardiovascular system. The plant should not be consumed by children under 14 years old, as well as pregnant or lactating mothers.

Before using the hellebore, you should consult your doctor. Any drug based on it will require very strict adherence to the dosage. Otherwise, the medicine will become a poison that can lead to many dangerous consequences - ringing in the ears, edema, and even cardiac arrest. In order not to risk it, self-medication is by no means worth it.