There are not many plants that bloom outdoors in December and January, but a little perennial on the market today is the Lenten rose, also called Christmas rose or hellebore.
It is a member of the Ranunculaceae family, with the botanical name of Helleborus. That sounds a bit like “hell’a bore us” in pronunciation.
Many fans consider the helleborus’ foliage to be its best asset. It is evergreen with rich olive leaves. Each leaf is divided into elongated, palmate leaflets, resembling a hand with the fingers spread.
Most of the hellebores on the market today are crosses of the Lenten rose, helleborus orientalis. There are so many choices of color in these hybrids that often they are marketed by color: blue-blacks, smoky purples or pinks. The helleborus foetidus can be found in many common gardening catalogues under the name of “stinking hellebore.” It is a native to England, but has been marketed in the U.S. for some time. The blossoms of this hellebore are a pale green, which is stunning against its dark olive leaves in the otherwise barren landscape of winter. It gets its name from the unpleasant smell the leaves release when crushed. It has been described as “rather skunky,” “somewhat catty” and “not THAT bad.”
I suggest that you do not crush the leaves. The H.foetidus grows well in sun or shade, but is marketed as doing very well in complete shade. It will do beautifully in sun if it is given ample moisture. Ketzel Levine says the flowers are most beautiful with sun exposure. All hellebores need good drainage, even moisture and loamy, nutrient-rich soil.
The way in which plants get their names and the legends that form around them are interesting, and the hellebore is no exception.
Legend claims that the Christmas rose first appeared when a country girl visited the stable where the Christ child lay in the manger. She began to weep because she had no gift. As her tears fell, a hovering angel landed and showed her the Christmas rose poking through the snow to use as her offering. This is not the plant to give to a baby, however, as it is quite poisonous. It has been mentioned in ancient times as a cure for worms in children. It was noted that the author said to use it with caution as its effectiveness in killing worms sometimes killed the patient as well. One source says that is was good for “those troubled with blacke choler, and molested with melancholy.” I had to wonder if it cured them by death, as well.
The ancient Greeks have a legend that the daughters of Proetus treated a statue of the goddess Dionysus with disrespect and as a punishment were deprived of their senses. They began to streak throughout the region naked and crazed. A shepherd got them to stop long enough for a drink of goat’s milk. The goats had been eating hellebores, and the girls were cured. The shepherd went on to receive a large portion of the kingdom. (Hellebores first marketing success.)
In my opinion, these legends are no more interesting than real facts about the miraculous little plants. The seeds are spread by snails. They eat the oil covering the seed and carry the rest away in their slime. The flowers can freeze solid, be encapsulated by an inch of ice and, when thawed, remain as beautiful as when in their icy prison.
Hellebores are a wonderful addition to loamy wooded areas and, for those of you who find December and January a little gloomy because of the barrenness of the earth, maybe even a little anti-depressive. Plant a few and see your own little Christmas miracle.
Tammy Bush has been a Master Gardener of four years. She has been a pediatric nurse and educator, but now works from home as chauffeur to her two teenage sons. Two cats and a husband round out her life. When she isn’t driving she runs a quilting business, putters in her gardens and likes do-it-yourself yard and home projects. Shade gardening, recycling and Japanese gardens are a few of her favorite things. She can be reached at bushboys3@centurytel.net.