BY DAVID P. DAVIS
We start the blooming series with a focus on hellebores (common name Christmas rose or Lenten rose), members of the buttercup family. Hellebores include about 20 species of herbaceous perennials that bloom as early as January in their native range of Europe and Asia. They are not related to roses and many species produce poisonous alkaloids that make them distasteful to animals.
Hellebores are woodland plants that can tolerate full or part shade. They prefer moist, well-drained soil where they form clumps of evergreen foliage. In late winter and early spring, blooms start to form and push up from the center of the plant. The blooms form on stalks about 8 to 12 inches in height and tend to tilt toward the ground. Thus, they make a great addition when planted on a rise or in a raised bed as part of a border below shrubs or trees.
Hellebore blooms consist of five broad petals surrounding their reproductive structures and are about two-three inches wide. Each species has a range of colors, with some being yellow or green, white, or purple. Today, many of the ornamental varieties are hybrids and include types with mottled petals and double flowers.
At the West Virginia Botanic Garden, we have hellebores in many of our more shady garden beds. You can find the largest and oldest plants in the Eclectic Garden near our Tyrone Road entrance where large clumps of purple and white hellebores are coming into bloom. In the Secret Garden, we have many hybrid specimens with white petals and purple mottling. And, in the George W. Longenecker Shade Garden, we have our largest collection that includes some newer hybrids with mottled petals and double blooms.
While hellebores might be the first to flower at the WVBG, the blooms do last a long time so pick a nice day over the next month to come visit and enjoy the hellebores.
For information, maps, and more, go to WVBG.org or visit at 1061 Tyrone Road in Morgantown.
