Hellebores Beauties

Modern Hellebores are of such complex breeding they are sometimes now referred to as the Helleborus x orientalis group. The strains keep improving introducing rich color combinations and superior flower forms. Picoteed petals, double flowers and upward-facing blooms are all being created. The Hellebores Brandywine™ strain, a premium fine developed strain, contains wonderful rare apricots, picoteeds, and yellows among the single, anemone, and double flowered blooms. This particular breed of hellebores is in the garden where mediocrity is intolerable.

The hard-to-find colors and flower forms took 15 years in the breeding of this particular strain representing the best of decades of European collections. Sometimes known as the D.L.C. Hybrids after their breeder David Culp, this breed boasts impeccable flower form coupled with unusual colors and combinations. Single, anemone, and double blooms are found in a full range of solid, bi-colored, freckled, and even rare picoteed forms. The colors are the traditional deep red burgundy, pale greens, and ivories plus very unusual yellows, pinks, and apricots. The Brandywine strain of hellebores will definitely add variety and unusual richness to your garden collection display.

Breeder David Culp collected the original plants for this strain from the premier Hellebore gardens and collections of Europe. Fifteen years were spent hand-crossing them to select only the finest in color and flower form for the Brandywine™ Strain. The results of this work show in the diversity of flower forms. He used rare species and award-winning plants to create this strain.

Another wonderful characteristic of Hellebores, and inherent to this strain, is their resistant to heat, humidity, drought, and cold. Because the plants are poisonous, rabbits and deer leave them alone. Brandywine™ Hellebores are about 12 to 18 inches tall and a foot wide. They make ideal ground covers, and are used for mass plantings in woodland areas. An evergreen and very adaptable, they flower in late winter or early spring. The blooms will dry on the plant becoming papery and eventually fall or blow off. Capture fine European breeding in its most refined form by introducing this multi-colored very special hellebores to your shade garden this season.

Here are some gardening tips and plant characteristics to guide you when planting hellebores: The soil should be usually moist in texture, yet well drained; plant in shady to partly shaded areas; plant in the growing zones of 4-9; they are perennials and will bloom the first year in late winter to early spring, lasting for a fairly long period; their blooms are magnificent solid and speckled multi-colored with dark green foliage; and they grow upright about 12 to 18 inches tall. You can use these beauties in great cut flower arrangements too!

Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care, watering, hose reel and keeping your home garden looking attractive and healthy.