Hellebore: planting and care in the open field, description of 25 species and varieties with photos

Hellebore requires some care and adherence to planting rules. The plant pleases with its flowering in early spring, when other crops begin to wake up. There are about 20 types of culture, which served as the basis for the development of new varieties. Heleborus has many colors, different periods of budding and flowering.

Description and features

Perennial plant belongs to the Buttercup family. Heleborus flowers are poisonous, most often white in color. 22 species are known, of which varieties are cultivated. The hellebore has dense leathery green foliage that hibernates with it.It is cold hardy and drought tolerant. Flowering starts from the end of March and ends in July, the duration of flowering depends on the cultivar. In one place, the grass grows up to 10 years.

Growing seedlings from seeds

To grow from seeds, it is necessary to prepare planting material in advance, sow the seeds correctly, monitor the seedlings, properly pick in open ground.

Preparation of planting material

Heleborus seeds are harvested at the end of flowering. They can also be purchased at flower shops. Seeds are recommended to be planted immediately in a pot, as the longer they lie, the lower their germination.

How to sow

To grow seedlings, soil is poured into the prepared container, filling it halfway. Pour warm water. Then the seeds are immersed. They are covered with soil by 1.5 cm. Planting is carried out immediately after collecting the seeds, and seedlings appear only in March.After the formation of 3-4 natural leaves, the seedlings are transferred to the ground.

Irrigation

Give the plant abundant watering when it is still young. Water the first week after planting, use 1 liter of water per plant. Water is used pre-settled or rain. After 3-4 years of age, the plant is watered every 2-3 weeks.

Dive

Picking is carried out when the first 3-4 leaves appear in the seedlings, it can be transplanted into the ground. Choose a suitable penumbra place, dig holes and transfer the seedlings to them. Each plant is sprinkled with soil in layers, compacting each with your hands. This period usually falls in March. The first 3 years the plant does not produce flowers.

Outdoor cultivation

For cultivation in open ground, it is necessary to choose the right place, soil for cultivation. Seedlings are planted according to a certain scheme so that they do not interfere with the development of each other in the future.

Choosing a seat

To plant a heleborus, choose penumbra areas. They do well when grown under trees with spreading foliage. They are combined with other early types of flowers.

Ground requirement

Heleborus prefers loose, airy soils. They are drought-resistant and do not tolerate excess moisture in the soil. Increased water content reduces the immunity of the plant and affects the formation of flowers.

Plant pattern

When planting seedlings, dig holes 25 cm deep and 25 cm in diameter. The distance between plants is 30 cm.

Reproduction

Heleborus reproduces through seeds and division of bushes. There are types of hellebore that do better when grown from seed, while others reproduce well by division.

Sowing seeds

Seeds are harvested in mid-June or July, depending on the timing of flowering. It is recommended to tie the seed box with gauze in advance so that when the seed box breaks, the material remains in it and does not fall on the soil. The collected seeds are transplanted into containers and left until germination.

Dividing bushes

After flowering is complete, the bush is dug up and divided into several parts. Each new bush is planted separately. Such plants continue to grow and produce flowers in the first year.

Care

To get lush flowers and long flowering, it is necessary to provide the plant with the right care: monitor watering, fertilize, mulch bushes, thin out, protect from pests.

Irrigation

Mature plants are watered every 2-3 weeks. They retain moisture well due to dense leathery leaves. Abundant watering can harm the hellebore.

Important! Increase irrigation during prolonged drought.

Feeding

Heleborus practically does not need top dressing, he takes all the minerals he needs from the soil and moisture. If you carefully care for the crop, in the spring, you can make a one-time top dressing with a nitrogen content. Nitrogen improves flowering.

Mulching

Hellebore mulching is carried out at the end of the summer season. The root part of the plant is covered with hay or fallen leaves. This prevents root rot.

Diseases and pests

Like other crops, heleborus is susceptible to attack by harmful insects and some diseases. To combat them, preventive treatments with chemicals are carried out.

Slugs

Slugs appear on the leaves, stems of the plant in the middle of summer. They feed on pieces of the leaves of the plant. The quality of flowering is deteriorating. Slugs are collected from the leaves and destroyed.

Mice

Mice feed on Heleborus roots. These are small rodents that wake up in the middle of spring. To combat them, poison traps are made on the site.

Aphid

When overflowing bushes, aphids attack. These are small black insects. They are localized on the underside of the leaf and feed on its juice. Aphids multiply rapidly. To combat them, modern insecticides are used.

Hop spinner

These are butterflies that lay their eggs on hellebore leaves. The eggs hatch into larvae that feed on the leaves of the plant. To combat them, the larvae are removed and the flowers are sprayed with insecticides.

Coniothyrium hellebori

A fungal disease that appears with increased watering of the plant. Small gray or black spots form on the leaves. The disease affects the quality of flowering. To combat the fungus, the affected areas of the leaves are removed and treated with antifungal drugs.

Thinning

After the end of flowering at the end of the season, the bushes are thinned out. With a strong thickening of the shoots, every third is removed. Also remove all damaged and dry shoots.

Preparing for winter

Heleborus does not need shelter for the winter. Its shoots and foliage tolerate low temperatures well and should not be pruned. In September, the plant can be covered with fallen leaves to better cover the roots.

Transfer

Hellebore doesn't like changing habitat very much. It is transplanted if the wrong place is initially chosen. In one place, the plant grows for about 10 years.

Views

Many types of hellebore are found in the natural environment. Plants prefer shady places to grow. Flower growers grow heleborus on landscaping plots.

Black

The most common and popular type of hellebore used by flower growers in landscape design. The plant reaches a height of about 30 cm, forms tall flower stalks up to 60 cm in height. At the top are large flowers of double color, which are 8 cm in diameter. Inside the flower is white, and outside is light pink. Hellebore is a frost-resistant plant that can withstand temperatures down to -35 ° C. Its foliage remains green throughout the year, buds form in early April, and flowering lasts 2 weeks.

Oriental

This species is native to the Caucasus. This is a perennial hellebore, reaches a height of 30 cm, forms flowers of medium size, 5 cm in diameter. The flowers have a light yellow color with a burgundy edging. The leaves are large, fleshy. This species is susceptible to attack by fungal diseases, from which it loses its attractiveness.To prevent infection, it is necessary to carry out preventive spraying with fungicides annually.

Smelly

This type of hellebore has stems with abundant foliage. The stems reach a height of 30 cm. The plant forms high peduncles up to 80 cm. Dense inflorescences are formed at the top, which consist of small flowers. They are shaped like a bell. The color of the flowers is light green with a burgundy rim and small specks. This species not only tolerates high frosts, but also easily copes with drought. Hellebore forms a powerful root system that absorbs water from the deep layers of the earth.

Caucasian

This species is the least used in the field, as the plant is very poisonous. The Caucasian hellebore is most common in the Caucasus. It forms high peduncles 20-50 cm long. At the top are light yellow flowers with a greenish tint. The flowers are large, diameter 80 mm. The plant forms large fleshy leaves 15 cm long, which have elongated petioles.The flower tolerates severe frosts. It differs in the duration of flowering, which begins in mid-April and ends in July.

Important! The Caucasian species of hellebore contains the largest amount of poison.

Tuber

A special kind of hellebore. It was obtained by crossing other types of culture. It has a variety of colors. The height of the shoots is 30 cm. They form high peduncles. The diameter of the flower is 8 cm. The plant tolerates drought and frost well. Tubers form on the roots, which accumulate nutrients and moisture. These substances are carried through the tubers throughout the stem.

Popular varieties

Breeders around the world have developed many varieties of heleborus. Each of them has its own characteristic color and care instructions.

Potter's Wheel

A plant variety that has the largest flowers. They reach 12 cm in diameter. Refers to the black type of hellebore. It has a shoot height of 30 cm and high half-meter peduncles.

Praecox

This variety has a special soft pink color. The flowering of the plant falls in the month of November. The leaf remains light green throughout the year.

Double Ellen Red

Belonging to Oriental Heleborus, the plant reaches a height of 30 cm, forms long peduncles, at the ends of which are bright purple double flowers with yellow stamens.

Blushing

Heleborus of this variety forms characteristic bright red flowers. Their diameter is 8 cm. Yellow stamens form inside. The bush tolerates propagation by division well and is resistant to frost.

Blue Lady

Belongs to the eastern species of heleborus. The plant has light green leaves, forms corollas with five ash-violet petals with a burgundy edging. Inside are bright light yellow stamens.

HJC Joshua

Refers to the black type of Heleborus. Differs in the earliest flowering, which begins in November. Forms flowers with a light beige color.

Precox

Refers to the black kind of culture. Forms pale pink flowers with a diameter of 8 cm. Peduncles are high, up to 30 cm. Flowering begins in April and lasts 10-14 days.

White Swan

Refers to the eastern species of hellebore. The plant is low, about 30 cm, forms milky white flowers of small diameter, about 50 mm.

Rock and Roll

Also refers to the eastern species of hellebore. Forms white flowers with crimson dots, which is a distinctive feature of the variety.

Blue Anemone

A low perennial plant belongs to the eastern species. Forms flowers of medium size, pale purple color.

Lady Series

This is a special variety of oriental hellebore that grows up to 40cm tall. When flowering at the top of the shoots, flowers of six different colors are formed at once.

Violetta

Hybrid variety that has lush white inflorescences with a fluffy core. Each flower has a diameter of 5 to 8 cm. A thin light pink border forms along the edge. Low hardy perennial plant.

Bellinda

Hybrid variety forms double flowers with a green rim and a greenish-pink section on each petal. The plant reaches a height of 30 cm. The leaves are bright green, fleshy.

Queen of the Night

This variety produces bright dark purple flowers with bright yellow stamens. Refers to a hybrid species of hellebore.

Orientalis

Belongs to the eastern species. It forms lush inflorescences with a diameter of 5 cm. The stems are low, about 30 cm, the color is varied: from light purple to black.

Niger

Refers to the black species of Heleborus. Niger got its name for its characteristic black roots. It reaches a height of 30 cm, forms high peduncles up to 50 cm, with snow-white corollas, on which there are small burgundy specks.

Collection and storage of seeds

Seeds are formed in boxes after flowering. Then the boxes are torn, the seeds spill onto the ground. Of these, new shoots are formed in March. To collect the seeds, each box is obligated with a piece of gauze, then the seeds will not fall on the ground, but will remain in the fabric.

Important! The earlier the seeds are planted, the higher their germination rate.

When it blooms

Depending on the variety, hellebore blooms in March. The duration is different, some varieties bloom up to 2 months, and some only two weeks. This is the advantage of culture. Flowering falls at a time when other plants begin to wake up.

Application in landscape design

Hellebore is planted next to trees and shrubs. They also form separate flower beds with heleborus of different varieties. Flowers are often combined with other winter-hardy species: chiondoxes, crocuses, snowdrops.

Properties of hellebore

Herebush flowers are poisonous. With proper use and low dosage, the plant has a healing effect. Its roots are used in folk medicine to improve the condition of the body and the complex treatment of diseases. Heleborus has the following useful properties:

• regulates the body's metabolic processes;
• normalizes blood pressure;
• reduces blood glucose levels;
• has an antiseptic effect;
• promotes the removal of excess fluid from the body;
• has an antioxidant effect;
• cleanses the gastrointestinal tract;
• relieves acute headaches;
• helps to cope with colds;
• prevents the development of tumors.

Important! The use of Heleborus should be discussed with the doctor in order to select the desired dosage and avoid overdose.

Use in traditional medicine

In folk medicine, decoctions, powders and infusions are prepared from the roots of the plant. The roots are harvested in September, after flowering has ended. They are well washed and cleaned from the ground. Then dried at a temperature of 40-45 °C. The roots retain their healing properties for 2 years.

This remedy helps with obesity. The use of Heleborus for 4 weeks will help you get rid of 5-6 kg without exhausting diets and hunger strikes.

The consequences of an overdose

When an overdose of hellebore poisons, the following symptoms appear:

• ringing in the ears;
• intense thirst;
• dry mouth;
• laryngeal edema;
• breathing difficulties;
• dizziness;
• chest pain.

The plant contains a large number of poisons that affect the cardiovascular system. Poisoning is possible after the first application. The dosage must be selected together with the attending physician.

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