There has been an upsurge in popularity in hellebores in recent years with the introduction of new and exciting forms and colors. Betsy Clebsch gave us a refresher course on the various species in general use as well as a look at some of the unusual cultivars she is growing in her garden. Although hellebores are European natives they seem to be made to order for Californian gardens; they are gopher and deer proof, they are shade-loving but tolerant of alkaline soil, and give us a long period of bloom in winter just when we need them. They are tough plants and will survive poor soil and drought but really perform best with good soil and regular water.
            Helleborus xorientalis is the species most often grown here and is the one with the greatest display of color, from white through pinks and purples and, recently, shades of yellow. Flowers may be clear or variously spotted or speckled. Hybridizers are now producing ever more vivid colors as well as double forms. Betsy showed a pure white double called 'White Magic' and an especially nice apple blossom combination of white petals with pink rims. This species is stemless, the petioles and flowering stem rising directly from the roots. Although the leaves will hang on into the second year they are best removed in fall so that the new flowers and stems can be seen to better advantage.
            H. argutifolius is one of the largest of the hellebores, 2 to 4 ft. high, 3 ft. wide, and has handsome foliage, gray-green, the three-parted leaves leathery and spiny-edged. The leafy stems are topped with clusters of cup-shaped creamy-green flowers, as many as 20 or more flowers per stem.
            H. lividus resembles H. argutifolius, is native to Majorca and rarely seen in nurseries here. It is distinguished by blue-green three-parted leaves that have lighter veins and pinkish-green flowers and petioles. A cross between lividus and argutifolius is H. xsternii, an especially handsome and vigorous plant with flowers and leaves intermediate between its parents. Its seedlings sometimes favor one, sometimes the other parent. It is available from Suncrest Nurseries.

H. x orientalis - double white

H. x orientalis - pink picotee

H. x orientalis - spotted hybrid

H. argutifolius