Hellebore flower: planting and care
The hellebore flower is a perennial plant that gets its name from its ability to grow and bloom in winter or early spring. Some varieties bloom already in January, so the flower has other names: Christmas rose, Christ flower or winter house.
The culture belongs to the buttercup family, therefore it is a poisonous plant. Its leaves are dense and green throughout the winter. And what seems to us to be a flower is actually a cup with a diameter of up to 8 cm. Inside it there are leaves in the form of funnels and stamens with pistils. The stem on which the flower is placed grows up to 50 cm in height.
Hellebore flower is a medicinal plant used to treat skin infections, epilepsy, gout
There are about 20 varieties of flowers that have different colors and flowering periods. The plant blooms for several months before the beginning of summer, and some species all summer. This is due to the fact that the petals do not dry out or fall off after flowering, but remain until the seeds are ripe.
Think over the place for planting in advance, since this plant does not tolerate transplanting well. In a permanent place, the plant can grow for 10 years.
The soil requirements are small: it must be moist and loose. And the sun does not like a flower, shady areas under trees and bushes suit it.
The flower propagates in two ways:
- Seeds to be planted immediately after harvest. Plant them in loose, fertilized soil to a depth of about 1,5 cm. The sprouts will not appear until March. Seedlings with two full leaves should be dived into a half-shaded area. After a couple of years, transplant the seedlings to the chosen place.
- By dividing the bush. After flowering, divide the root of the plant into parts and plant it in new places that have been fertilized with compost in advance. Place the sprouts at a distance of up to 30 cm from each other. Water the seedlings vigorously for 3 weeks.
The choice of planting method also depends on the variety. Some varieties, like the smelly hellebore, reproduce only by self-sowing, while others, such as the black hellebore, tolerate division well.
Expect flowering of sown sprouts no earlier than in 3 years. Separated bushes will bloom faster.
There is little care for this flower. Any fertilizer is suitable; a year after planting, you can feed it with bone meal or complex fertilizer. Watering is regular, do not overdry or flood the soil. To retain moisture, it is better to mulch the soil.
Among pests, aphids, snails and slugs are dangerous. In damp weather, the leaves can become dark spots due to the fungus. In this case, cut off diseased leaves and treat the flower with appropriate fungicides.
On the backyard, the hellebore goes well with early crocuses, tulips, hazel grouses, daffodils. You can decorate an alpine slide with it. But be very careful if there are small children: the plant is very poisonous.