Botanica Atlanta Landscape Design

Cooler temperatures and ample rain bring our attention towards fall landscape planting and many of us have started to make lists of new perennials to be added to our gardens this fall. We'll be devoting several posts to some prized plants that you might consider planting this fall.

Helleborus orientalis. Photo credit: Cloud Conrad

Helleborus orientalis is one to consider if you don't already have several in your shade gardens. Hellebores, or lenten rose, are glossy, dark green-leaved, evergreen perennials which self sow readily in mostly shady conditions.

They are expensive - there's no getting around that fact. But hellebores will more than pay you back your original investment, if you leave their blooms alone and let the beautiful black seeds develop and disperse amongst your pine bark mulch.

Hellebores bloom in late winter and the blooms last until late spring. The blooms arrive during the Christian season of Lent, hence the common name lenten rose. The seedlings will take a few years to bloom but once they do you'll enjoy a naturalizing effect that is dramatic and unique. Their blooms are not really petals but modified calyxs, which accounts for their long "bloom" time, according to Plant Delights Nursery. 

Seedlings rarely produce the same bloom color as their parents, but you'll not be disappointed because the blooms of the hellebore generally start one color and morph to another through the season. This transition is so interesting you'll forget all about the color you expected.

Hellebores generally stand a foot and a half high and spread as wide when mature. All parts of Helleborus orientalis are poisonous. Hellebores are deer resistant and can tolerate dry soil. Hellebores are perfect for the woodland garden or border, as groundcover or specimen planting. Native to Asia minor, hellebores grow throughout the US, from zone 4A to 9A.

Hellebores are beautiful year-round and look especially good paired with golden acorus (sweet flag), autumn fern, golden creeping jenny, false solomon's seal, hakonechloa, dwarf cypresses, and red and purple leaf Japanese maples. Ask your landscape designer whether you have a good spot for Helleborus orientalis in your landscape.  For more information, visit the Hellebore Society