Posts Tagged ‘Hellebores’

Hellebores have become America’s #1 Deer Proof Plant for Shade Garden.  Pink Frost Hellebore is a  spring flowering shade groundcover with unique silver evergreen foliage. Exciting rare &  drought proof perennial. Watch our video and  find out why this is such a stunning shade plant for the perennial garden.

Grown and shipped in our Jumbo 1 Quart Pots  at www.GreatGardenPlants.com

Earliest blooming Hellebore!

I never thought I’d live to see the day that we were able to grow a true PINK flowered Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger), but famed English hybridizer David Tristram has finally accomplished his goal!

After many years of careful hand-crossing Helleborus niger with Helleborus x hybridus, David was finally successful in creating a true inter-specific cross.

It was originally thought that these two different species would never cross with each other, however Mr. Tristram has proved this theory wrong.

Vast flower colors of Helleborus x hybridus

As you can see from the picture on the right, Helleborus x hybridus comes in a wide variety of flower colors, shapes, and sizes. Whereas the Christmas Rose, Helleborus niger is a pristine, clear white in color.

Walberton’s Rosemary Hellebore is a superb hybrid between these two that now gives gardeners the “Best of Both Worlds”! We get the rich pink flower color from the xhybridus parent and the 3 month earlier bloom time from the niger parent.

Deer proof shade plant Walberton's Rosemary Hellebore

We’ve just finished Halloween here in western Michigan and our plants of Walberton’s Rosemary are coming into full bloom! WOW! I’ve never seen another Hellebore bloom this early in the year.

As you can see from the picture on the left, the hybridization process has also produced a plant with superb vigor! Christmas roses can be a bit tricky to grow in the home garden, but when Mr. Tristram crossed it with the vigorous x hybridus, he greatly improved its garden vigor.

Tremendous flower power of Walberton's Rosemary Hellebore

As you can see from the image on the right, this new hybrid has tremendous flower power! I shot this picture at Skagit Gardens before this plant had been released several years ago. I was simply amazed at the huge number of blooms on these 2 gallon specimen containers!

Congratulations to Mr David Tristram for all his years of dedicated hard work! His new Walberton’s Rosemary Hellebore brings another new realm of great garden possibilities to our favorite and Colorful Deer Proof Shade Hellebores!

Helleborus Grape Galaxy

It’s getting to be one of my favorite times of the year as all of my Stock Plant Hellebores begin to come into bloom! These ultra-easy and extremely hardy Shade Plants make superb, long-lived perennials in the garden. Their foliage is semi-evergreen in the North and totally evergreen in the South.

Plus, they are 100% DEER PROOF! I’ve grown Hellebores for over 15 years and have had deer prance thru my garden chewing everything in site, BUT they have never touched a single Hellebore. This might be because their leaves are slightly toxic.

My Hellebores are all in greenhouses in Western Michigan and are beginning their flower show much earlier than plants outdoors. In most parts of the country, they’ll begin their flower show in late winter and continue for over 8 weeks.

Hellebores, with their dark green foliage, make superb companions to shade-loving plants like Heucheras, Hostas, Hardy Ferns, & Hydrangeas.

If you’ve never grown Hellebores, now is the perfect time to start! We’ve got over 13 colorful selections for you to choose from on our website at www.GreatGardenPlants.com !

Happy New Year to All!

Hellebores are regarded as one of the best deer-proof shade plants. A harbinger of spring with an array of colorful blooms in either single or double forms.   Watch this video for helpful tips on achieving long lasting Lenten Rose blooms in your shade garden. Click Here for more helpful information on growing Hellebores and see why this is one of our shade garden favorites!

Black & black-like plants are finally getting the recognition they deserve.  Black plants are alluring as they create excitement while making other colors come alive in the garden.  If you select black foliage or flowering perennials, they will come back year after year.

Yellow Creeping Jenny Lysimachia adds SIZZLE when combined with Black Scallop Ajuga

The problem with black  that left alone in the garden they can appear dull and uninteresting. Given the right companion can make all the difference in making this color explode with excitement.

BLACK PERENNIALS TO CONSIDER

Actaea Black Negligee – black lacy foliage all summer!

Helleborus London Fog – Deer & drought proof shade groundcover with black flowers

Ophiopogon (Black Mondo Grass) - Narrow black foliage. is used as a groundcover or in containers.

Ajuga Black Scallop (Bugleweed) – Low growing black foliage groundcover for sun or shade

Sambucus Black Lace – A  black foliage Japanese Maple Look-alike – Pair  this with Sunny Knock Out Roses!

Heuchera Obsidian – sun makes the foliage color shimmer just like the stone obsidian!

Here are a few tips to make this gothic color come alive!

Tip # 1

Two plants that do a Tango!

If you really want to add some crackle n’ pop with black foliage combine with Yellow/Gold foliage plants.

Here’s two combinations that really tango when paired together – Lysimachia Aurea and Ophiopogon Nigrescens or Black Mondo Grass

Need other ideas to add some POP?

Love Story - Helleborus London Fog & Hakonechloa All Gold

Plant low growing Ajuga at the base of  gold/yellow Hostas such as Sum & Substance or June Fever.

A magical almost spring love story happens with drought proof Helleborus London Fog & Hakonechloa All Gold.

Try Rose Sunny Knock Out with Sambucus Black Lace for a oh-la-la effect.

Tip #2

To bring out the best color in black-foliage perennials give them some sun – morning sun or afternoon sun. Black foliaged plants that are grown in complete shade will appear dull and uninteresting.

Tip #3

Use black plants sparingly.  If planted in large groupings, they’ll create a large dark & dreary spot in the garden.

Tip #4

Use black plants in containers. Select a light color container to make the colors jump.  I’ve used a white container with black-foliage Heuchera Obsidian and boy did that bring out the color.  Or surround your black plants with lighter colors such as golds, or oranges.

Certainly there are other colors that will play well with black. The important thing  is that black plants need some play on color to make them stand out.

Bring on the black in your garden and have sun fun coming up with exciting combinations that you’ll love!