Hellebores are a strikingly unique and hardy plant that could make a fantastic addition to anyone’s yard. What exactly makes Hellebores so unique?
To start, let’s review the basic anatomy of an average flower. Imagine you have an unopened flower bud and you are peeling back the first layer. The first layer is typically green leaves called sepals; they protect the inner flower parts as they are developing. Now we are peeling back the next layer and we notice that this new layer is more colorful. These are your flower petals and they are responsible for attracting pollinators when the flower opens. After we peel away the flower petals, we are left with the reproductive center of the flower. This is responsible for producing pollen for pollinators and with some botanical magic, will eventually produce fruit containing seeds.
If we repeat the process above with a hellebore, it would be different! First layer would be colorful, modified leaves normally known as sepals but because they are modified to mimic flower petals, we call them bracts. The next layer should be petals, right? Well... kinda. These petals will be smaller, more tubular in shape and contain nectar for the pollinators, so we call them nectaries. At the center of the flower, will be the reproductive structures, as normal.
What is the purpose of all these modifications? Showy bracts are often a plants way of trying to attract pollinators to smaller, inconspicuous flower parts contained within. The bracts can also serve as protection for fragile flower part or fruit by shielding them from harsh weather or UV exposure. Studies show that in some hellebores, the most studied being Helleborus foetidus, nectaries can also contain naturally occurring yeasts. When the yeasts are fermenting, it creates heat. The flower literally becomes a heated micro-environment for their pollinators (perfect for chilly winter months!). It is also hypothesized that the hardier bracts allow the plant more time to attract pollinators before the flower gets destroyed in harsh weather. Typical flowers can be quite fragile and harsh weather could destroy them before a pollinator gets a chance to pollinate it.
Bracts aren’t the only fascinating modification the hellebores have adopted to survive! Hellebores are also myrmecochorus, meaning ants are their primary seed dispersal mechanism. The seed has a nutritious attachment called an elaiosome that is very attractive to the ants because it is rich in lipids (fats) and proteins. The ants will collect the seed, carry it to their nest and feed the elasiosome to their larvae. Once the elasiosome is eaten away, the seed is discarded in the ants’ waste area. This effectively plants and fertilizes the seed!
We’ve learned a bit about what makes hellebores so unique but what makes them so great for gardening? Hellebores are fantastic for both beginner and professional gardeners! They are a low-maintenance, evergreen plant with a long-lasting floral show that can last for weeks to months! They bloom from winter to spring, creating a beautiful pop of color in your gardens when most other plants are still dormant. When they aren’t blooming, the unique and hardy foliage creates beautiful contrast in any garden. They are also shade tolerant so you can plant them where sun-loving plants would struggle. Hellebores are left alone by pests such as deer and rabbits, only attracting pollinators such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Interested in Adding a Hellebore to your Plant Collection? Here’s what we have Available!
- Helleborus Winter Jewels Series ‘Slate Double’ – Purple Flowers
- Helleborus Winter Jewels Series ‘Golden Sunrise’ – Yellow Flowers with Red Throat
- Helleborus x hybridus ‘Golden Lotus’ – Yellow Flowers
- Helleborus x ‘Cherry Blossom’ – White Flowers with Maroon Veins
- Helleborus x ‘Picotee Pearl’ – White Flower with Pink Picotee Edges
- Helleborus x hybridus Winter Jewels Series ‘Sun Flare’ – Yellow Flower with Red Picotee Edges
- Helleborus x hybridus Winter Jewels Series ‘Rose Quartz’ – White Flower with Pink Picotee Edges
- Helleborus x hybridus Winter Jewels Series ‘Fire & Ice’ – White Flowers with Pink Veins
- Helleborus x glandorfensis ‘HGC Ice-N-Roses – Rose’ – Rosy Pink Flowers with Darker Rose Edge
- Helleborus ‘Ice-N-Roses – Brunello’ – Maroon Flowers
- Helleborus x hybridus Winter Jewels ‘Painted’- White Flower with Speckled Red Throat
- Helleborus x glandofensis ‘HGC Ice-N-Roses – Dark Picotee’ – Cream Flower with Maroon Picotee Edges
Citations
“Do Yeasts Aid Pollination for the Stinking Hellebore?” In Defense of Plants, In Defense of Plants, 28 Feb. 2021, www.indefenseofplants.com/blog/2018/4/16/do-yeasts-aid-pollination-for-the-stinking-hellebore.
“Helleborus X Hybridus.” Helleborus x Hybridus (Hybrid Lenten Rose, Lenten Rose) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/helleborus-x-hybridus/. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024.
The BRAHMS Project, University of Oxford. “Hellebores.” Oxford University Plants 400: Helleborus Species, Oxford University, herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/bol/plants400/Profiles/GH/Helleborus. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.
Wahle, Elizabeth. “Winter Blooming Hellebores.” Illinois Extension, niversity of Illinois, 1 Dec. 2020, extension.illinois.edu/blogs/welcome-my-jungle/2020-12-01-winter-blooming-hellebores.