Species hellebore
Pink flower with white stigma, magenta style, white anther, magents filament, green leaves  magenta vein, yellow midrib, and dark-green stem

hellebore

Helleborus orientalis subsp. abchasicus (Early Purple Group)

Hellebore (Helleborus orientalis subsp. abchasicus) is a flowering perennial with striking purple-pink blooms. It is a member of the Early Purple Group, and is native to the Abkhaz region of the Caucasus. The plants can be evergreen or semi-evergreen and feature green foliage with finely toothed lobes. It typically blooms in late winter or early spring, and has clumps of flowers that face upward. The blooms last for several weeks, and the leaves are deer and rabbit resistant. Hellebore is easy to grow in well-drained soil in full to partial shade and is also relatively drought-tolerant. This plant is great for adding beauty to your garden and is sure to be a charming focal point.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Root Cutting,Seed Propagation,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

5 - 9

Flowers:

Purple-red to plum-purple Flowers

Sun:

Part shade,full shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,purple

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Poisonous To Pets:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Early Purple Group Hellebore plants need to be watered weekly. In their first growing season, keep the soil moist but not wet in order to encourage healthy root growth. As the weather warms up, reduce watering to once a week or slightly more if needed. On hot days, it's best to provide shelter to protect these plants from direct sunlight. In the fall, decrease watering and allow the soil to dry out slightly before watering. During the winter, water plants every 2 to 3 weeks or when the top of the soil becomes dry.

sunlight

Early Purple Group hellebores prefer partial sunlight, but will tolerate full sun as long as it is not too intense. They should receive 4-5 hours of direct sunlight each day, ideally in the morning or late afternoon. Morning sun will help them to dry off any dew that has accumulated on the leaves. Too much direct sunlight can cause the leaves to scorch, so it's important to provide some afternoon shade to help keep them from getting too hot.

pruning

Hellebore should be pruned in early spring after flowering but before any new growth appears. If the foliage is evergreen, the plant should be lightly pruned in mid-winter as well. Prune off any dead or damaged stems, then thin out any overgrown stems to reduce overcrowding. Remove any flower stems that have finished flowering. Prune the stems back to their base, leaving at least 2 leaves on each stem. Prune about a third of the stems each year to keep the plant in a neat, contained shape.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Hellebore typically start flowering in late winter or early spring, usually between February and April.

Hardiness Map