Helleborus argutifolius ‘Pacific Frost’

Description

Helleborus argutifolius ‘Pacific Frost’

Corsican Hellebore (Helleborus corsicus). I’m not always one for variegated plants, but this one is rather special. It is essentially just the same as the species with the leaves completely splashed with a rough misting of white, a characteristic that is greatly enhanced by the ruby red rim and wash to the freshest leaves. Flowers are apple green in dense terminal clusters in February to April. Helleborus argutifolius grows fresh 60cm stems each year which should be cut back hard after flowering to encourage the new years growth. Appreciates a little addition of lime to the soil. The foliage is at its best in a little light shade. A chance find in the Vancouver garden of Pam Frost.

Hellebores are so welcome as they bloom soon after Christmas at a time when flowers are so scarce. They come in such a wonderful variety of colour; whites through to pinks and blue-black purples, with some in shades of green and yellow. Many are beautifully spotted inside, but no two are ever identical. Nowadays there are a bewildering array of doubles to add to the mix. Anyone taking the time to stop and lift up a bloom is always well rewarded.

Hellebores are so welcome as they bloom soon after Christmas at a time when flowers are so scarce. They come in such a wonderful variety of colour; whites through to pinks and blue-black purples, with some in shades of green and yellow. Many are beautifully spotted inside, but no two are ever identical. Nowadays there are a bewildering array of doubles to add to the mix. Anyone taking the time to stop and lift up a bloom is always well rewarded.

There are a number of different types of Hellebore and this seems to cause some confusion, which I will try to clarify here. I have simplified somewhat and missed out some species.

Christmas Roses are the ones you get all over Christmas cards, pure white with a central boss of yellow stamens. This is Helleborus niger. It’s a short plant with very glossy dark green leaves and rarely flowers before January. When it does the flowers are born mostly singly on short stiff upright stems.

The Lenten Rose is Helleborus orientalis and its hybrids.This flowers more February onwards and is taller with nodding flowers in shades of white, pink and purple (and yellow). The flowers are always on stems of more than one, but never that many.

Neither of these has any form of stalk or main stem.