If you want to do some gardening during the late winter months when it seems that everything looks dull and lifeless, then you can count on hellebores to give your garden a touch of beautiful colors and bring back vibrancy and life to your garden.
Also known as Christmas Rose, Lenten Rose, or Winter rose, hellebores belong to the evergreen perennial flowering plant family which belongs to the Helleborus group. Hellebores have always been used for ornamental purposes in the garden and a well as inside the house. So whether you are into gardening or you are just looking for solutions to add a little liveliness to your home during the off-season, we are here to give you a list of the common types of hellebore flowers so that you will know their differences.
What’s Makes Hellebores Standout?
Hellebores have thick and leathery leaves that have a green color. This perennial plant can survive mild winters, and it has the ability to quickly regrow its damaged leaves faster compared to other plants. This is why having hellebores in your garden means that you can achieve an abundant look that can be admired all year long. Hellebore flowers come in different sizes, colors, textures, as well as various flower forms.
Most Popular Hellebores
The following are the most popular types of hellebores:
Corsican Hellebore – The color green is rarely attributed to flowers. Still, this rare type of hellebore flower broke all the stereotypes and proudly flaunts its all-green blooms. The Corsican hellebore is in season all year long, and they commonly grow in large open clusters that have around thirty pale green flowers that seem to grow around the central leader that has equally green stamens. Even if this flower is considered to be an evergreen perennial, it still blooms excessively even after late winter until the early summer months. Compared to other hellebore plants that reach only one to two feet high, the Corsican hellebore can grow up to five feet tall. Corsicans are considered to be sun-tolerant, and they need up to six hours of direct sunlight to grow and flourish. Despite having faded hues, the Corsican hellebores are showy, and they can last long. If you want to brighten up your garden, then this perennial flower is one of the best choices out there.
Christmas Rose – These flowers came from the mountainous region of Central and Southern Europe. This type of hellebore usually blooms after the Christmas season, which explains the name, Christmas Rose. This perennial flower produces large, white, open-bowl shaped flowers which can grow up to 3 inches in diameter. They often have bright and golden-yellow stamens that add to its beauty. Christmas roses are a prevalent choice for many gardeners who want ornamental plants.
Lenten Roses – This hellebore variety goes by the name Lenten Roses because it always blooms during Lent season. This perennial flower is a native to Turkey and Greece, but they can also thrive and grow well in dry climates. Lenten roses can bloom over 50 flowers on each plant, which is why they are considered to be a very pompous species. Its flowers can bloom up to 2 months, and it can come in several different sizes, leaf shapes, colors, and as well as flower forms. This is why if you are planning to turn your garden into a more dazzling place, we suggest that you pick a combination of different Lenten Roses to make sure that your garden will have equal amounts of vividness and cheer.
Stinking Hellebore – This type of hellebore got its name because its foliage emits a pungent smell when it is crushed. In other locations, this perennial flower is called ‘bear’s foot’ because of the similarity of their odor. However, don’t let its name or scent fool you because this is a particular species of hellebores, which in the top tier when it comes to picking winter plants for gardens. Just like the Corsican hellebore, stinking hellebores are also considered to evergreen perennials because of its lime-colored blossoms. The stinking hellebore is overloaded with buds come end of winter and continues to bloom heavily for weeks up to mid-spring. Please take note that the stinking hellebore only stinks only when crushed, so unless you intend to crus it, you should definitely consider choosing it to be a part of your every winter garden.
Double Ellen – Double Ellen produces large, cup-shaped flowers that have frilled petals. It has flowers that bloom beautifully that they are bound to captivate everyone with their vivid colors. The reason behind why it is called a double ellen is because this is double-flowered hellebore. It blooms generously from winter up to early spring season. This is why it is no surprise that it is the most popular hellebore type in all seasons. Double Ellens come in various colors such as soft baby-pink flowers, white with rose-pink flecks, and purple, which technically has white petals that look like it has been sprayed with purple hue.