Hellebores for the winter garden. Most of our property is bathed in sun year round. This is because back in the early 1900s the land was cleared to create what is now an ancient prune orchard. The only garden with significant shade is in the shadow of the house.
It has taken me time to find tough plants that can not only withstand the hot California summer sun and long periods of drought, but also the prevalent clay soil. 🌷.
But, here in the shadow of the house, the Helleborus thrives. It is still clay, but in the shade the clay retains its moisture for many months after the rains have stopped. And the clay also supplies more minerals and nutrients to the plants which grow here. 🌷.
Hellebores in the winter
Hellebore is a perfect California shade plant because they can go dormant in the summer and through the fall, until the rains return. This is opposite of many traditional perennials whose growth season is during the warm weather.
Hellebore is actually closely related to rananculus, clematis, and believe it or not the delphinium. They are all grouped together in the same botanical taxonomic family. Hellebores are sometimes called lenten rose, especially outside of the United States, although they have no relation whatsoever to the rosa botanical family.
The most common colors for these striking plants are pale greens, pale yellows, soft pinks, and burgundy. The lighter colors are sometimes edged or speckled with a dark burgundy. Their heads are often downward facing facing, so they benefit from planting on berms or hills.
