Helleborus × hybridus (Lady Mix)
Common Name: hellebore 
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Ranunculaceae
Zone: 4 to 9
Height: 1.00 to 1.50 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet
Bloom Time: March to May
Bloom Description: White to red to purple
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize
Flower: Showy
Leaf: Evergreen
Other: Winter Interest
Tolerate: Deer, Heavy Shade

Culture

Easily grown in organically rich, fertile, humusy, alkaline, medium moisture, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Prefers light to moderate shade. Although the foliage is evergreen, it may become scorched and tattered in extremely harsh winters, particularly if not sited in locations protected from cold winter winds and/or insulated by snow cover. Cut back flowering stems after bloom to promote new foliage growth. Established plants that become congested may be divided in late summer to early fall. Hybrid hellebores are often grown from seed (some come true and some don’t), but plants will take two years to bloom when grown from seed.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Hybrid hellebores, sometimes commonly called hybrid Lenten roses or hybrid winter roses, are bushy, clump-forming perennials which typically grow to 12-15” tall. They are noted for producing single, cup-shaped flowers (typically 2-3” diameter) with five showy, usually overlapping petals (technically sepals), but sometimes come in a double flowered form. Flowers bloom in a large variety of colors, including various shades and tints of white, pink, red, purple, and yellow, and sometimes have inside spotting. Bloom typically commences in mid to late winter extending into early spring. Flowers appear at the tips of branched stems clad with evergreen dark green leaves which are divided into glossy, leathery, deeply-lobed, often toothed, lanceolate to elliptic segments.

Genus name comes from the Greek words bora meaning "food" and helein meaning "injures/destroys" in reference to the plant’s toxic leaves, stems and roots which are poisonous to humans if ingested.

The Lady Series consists of ten seed strain hybrid hellebores which were developed by Gisela Schmiemann of Cologne, Germany and introduced into commerce by Jelitto Perennial Seeds. Current cultivars with flower color in parenthesis are: 'Blue Lady' (blue-dark purple), 'Blue Metallic Lady' (metallic blue), 'Picotee Lady' (greenish white with pink veins), 'Pink Lady' (pink and rose), 'Pink Spotted Lady' (pink with red spots), 'Red Lady' (red), 'White Lady' (white), 'White Spotted Lady' (white with red spots), 'Yellow Lady' (yellow) and 'Double Ladies Mixed' (doubles in shades of white, yellow, pink, red and purple). These hellebores are bushy, clump-forming perennials that typically grows to 14-18” tall and are noted for their glossy, leathery, evergreen, dark green leaves and late winter to early spring bloom of flowers. Evergreen leaves are deeply lobed and divided into 7-9, narrow, lance-shaped to elliptic, usually-toothed segments. Cup-shaped flowers (to 2-3” diameter) with overlapping petals bloom at the tips of leafy stems from late winter to mid-spring (March to May in St. Louis).

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Crown rot and leaf spot are occasional problems. Leaves, stems and roots are poisonous.

Uses

Flowers that bloom in February/March in St. Louis are true harbingers of spring. Best planted in large groups. Locate plants near a kitchen window, patio or walkway so that the early bloom may be enjoyed to the fullest. Group in shady locations under trees, large shrubs or in woodland gardens. May also be incorporated into a naturalized area where the clumps will slowly spread through self-seeding. Mass for an attractive year round ground cover.