About
Ashwood Garden hybrids are a seed-raised group of semi-evergreen herbaceous perennials, up to 30cm high, with dark green leaves, and flowers from late winter to spring in a wide range of forms, including single and double, plain, spotted, blotched and flushed forms, and in a wide range of colours, including white, green, yellow, peach, pink, purple, slate-grey, and black.
About the genus
Helleborus can be rhizomatous, herbaceous or semi-evergreen perennials forming a clump of pedate basal leaves, or evergreen with erect, leafy stems. Large, bowl-shaped flowers are borne in loose clusters in late winter or spring
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam
Soil pHAlkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectWest-facing, East-facing, South-facing, North-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH7
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitClump forming
FoliageSemi evergreen
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden
ToxicityHarmful if eaten, skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten, skin irritant. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Care notes
CultivationWill tolerate a wide range of conditions, but does best in fertile, moisture-retentive, humus-rich but well-drained soil which is preferably heavy, and neutral or alkaline, in a position with shelter from strong, cold winds and in dappled shade, mulched every autumn with leaf mould, chipped bark or other organic matter; for more advice, see hellebore cultivation. Hellebore flowers provide nectar and pollen for early-flying bees
PruningRemove old leaves to help prevent hellebore leaf spot, and deadhead by removing old faded flower stems
PropagationPropagate by division of large clumps in early spring, watering well until they are established
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to hellebore aphid, hellebore leaf miner and snails
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to hellebore black death, hellebore leaf spot, downy mildews, grey moulds (botrytis), smuts, and virus diseases