 | | | Winter Flowering Perennials: Lenten rose (Hellebore) Hellebores are a valuable source of nectar for honey bees and early flying bumblebee Queens, which is why we include them in our honeybee plant collection. We have selected the earliest flowering varieties, which will happily continue to flower through snow and deep frost. They will tolerate most conditions, but do best in light shade in heavy soil. Although related to the native Stinking Hellebore, they don't smell (nor does the Stinking Hellebore itself, bizarrely). Lenten Roses are natives of Asia Minor, but have been in cottage gardens since Tudor times. We also sell the handsome Helleborus niger ('Christmas rose'). Plunge Hellebore stalks briefly in boiling water and they will last as cut flowers, which is how we came to appreciate how beautiful they are. Thought to be a powerful medicinal plant, associated with magic in ancient history back to at least the Bronze Age. By the 17th century the roots were dried and ground to be taken like snuff as a curative for headaches and melancholia. Poisonous if eaten, and care should also be taken when handling them.
Varieties:
Helleborus niger: white flowers (illustrated)
Helleborus orientalis 'Black Lady': dark purple flowers
Helleborus orientalis 'Blue Lady': dark blue flowers
Helleborus orientalis 'Red Lady': upright red flowers
Helleborus orientalis 'White Lady': pure white flowers
Helleborus orientalis 'Yellow Lady': yellow flowers with red spots
If we cannot find exactly the variety you would like in the nursery at the moment and we can find a very close alternative, we hope it is acceptable to supply it in lieu. Before we do so, however, we will ask you if you would be happy to accept a substitute.
Flowers: January - March
Soil type: Well drained, moist, fertile
Supplier : Burncoose Nurseries
We donate half of our profit on sales of Hellebores to The British Beekeepers' Association
Please note: there is a minimum purchase of 3 of each variety and a minimum overall order size of £50.
Our nectar and pollen plants have been chosen in association with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, British Beekeepers’ Association and Butterfly Conservation, who benefit from any sales. Please also see our wildflower and grass seed mixes, which include a Bumblebee mix, Pollen and Nectar Mix and Butterfly and Moth Wildflower Mix. We sell a number of plants in this section which provide important late and early nectar and pollen, for which also see our bulbs and non-native trees.
For butterflies, although you will find some nectar plants in this section which are also food plants for caterpillars, you will find many more in wildflower plugs, wildflower seeds, and native trees and shrubs.
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This product qualifies for a bulk discount
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