Principal groups of hellebores cultivated in our regions:
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General information and culture of the
hellebores:
Nowadays, the amateurs of plants and beautiful garden are increasingly demanding for the choices of plants, because the current passion for the
gardening strongly increased knowledge.
Just like the
daylilies, at another period of the year, the hellebores have the principal qualities currently requested from
a plant. Therefore the plant:
has) To be a plant without
problem:
The
hellebores are plants very easy to live. They settle without problems in the gardens
from autumn to the end of spring, are rustic and are seldom prone to diseases, parasites or
moisture
b)
must give flowers during a long period:
Hellebores, and it is their principal asset, have a very long period of flowering. This
is moreover the case during a period poor in color. Indeed, flowers open out between the end of winter and the middle of spring.
c) To be original and spectacular
Hellebores, thanks to the period of flowering,
the diversity of colors and shapes , the foliage
originality, and the persistence of this one. It
is undoubtedly one of the most curious plants and attracting modern garden.
GROUND: the hellebores like a fresh ground, rich well drained, and a pH close to neutrality (6 to 7). Hellebore orientalis accept a more acid ground.
(not stagnant water). Thus It is wise to associate sand of the Rhine and compost in heavy grounds (with argillaceous tendency) and a good amount of compost in too sandy grounds
The EXPOSURE: the semi-shade seems to be the best exposure.
MAINTENANCE: It is limited to elimination
of the old leaves damaged by the winter in order to highlight the flowers and to associate an organic manure in autumn and in spring.
DISEASES: as said earlier, the
hellebores are plants without problem. Under bad growing conditions, black spots
, the gray rot, the rot of the collet can appear. In this case, tear off
the plant, and start again by taking more care with the tillage and the choice the exposure.