My one and only hellebore

As you know, I live in a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and cool but mild winters. According to the USDA Hardiness Zone Map, we’re in zone 9b. This means that I can grow a wide variety of plants that might be considered exotic elsewhere, such as citrus and subtropical clumper bamboos. The flip side of the coin is that perennials that make gardeners yawn in the states like Missouri—like lilacs, peonies and hostas—are amazingly difficult to grow here because it just doesn’t get cold enough. I dream of having gunneras of monster proportions in my yard, but it will never happen!

Lenten roses, or hellebores, fall in the same category. I’ve tried several over the years, but the result was always the same: eventual demise. The UC Davis Aboretum appears to have better luck than I do!

I had just about given up on hellebores when I came across this listing on SequimRarePlants.com:

Helleborus 'Janet Starnes'
Named by Phillip Curtis Farms (a wholesale nursery no longer in business) for plantswoman Janet Starnes of Molalla, Oregon, who found the original in a batch of seedlings. To quote their 1999 wholesale catalog, "shining blue-green leaves are dusted with galaxies of white and dark green stars. New leaves, almost cream colored, are fringed with pink; older leaves darken to a marbled green. Clouds of soft green flowers in early sping. Named for the Janet Starnes." Blooms on the previous year's growth. The flowers are showy, but the main attraction is the unusual foliage. Some gardeners cut off the flowers at the ground in early spring to allow a better view of the creamy colored new growth. Cold hardy to -10°F.

I was hooked by the bit about “galaxies of white and dark green stars.” Since I was ordering some other plants from them anyway, I thought I’d take a chance. The plant I received was small, but I put it in the ground in the backyard near our two cordylines.

In December, it looked like this. I love the mottled foliage that stays evergreen year round, and I didn’t really expect more than that.

111217_by_hellebore_janet_starnes
Helleborus argutifolius ‘Janet Starnes’ in December 2011

However, in January flower buds started to form:

120121_Helleborus_argutifolius_Janet_Starnes
Helleborus argutifolius ‘Janet Starnes’ in January 2012

Now, in mid-March, the plant is in full flower:

120311_Helleborus-Helleborus-argutifolius-Janet-Starnes_01
Helleborus argutifolius ‘Janet Starnes’ in March 2012
120311_Helleborus-Helleborus-argutifolius-Janet-Starnes_02
Helleborus argutifolius ‘Janet Starnes’ flowers

Jaded gardeners may think that these greenish-white flowers are nothing to write home about, but I vehemently disagree. I think they are stunning!

                                                                                                                                      
120311_Helleborus-Helleborus-argutifolius-Janet-Starnes_09
 120311_Helleborus-Helleborus-argutifolius-Janet-Starnes_15
 
120311_Helleborus-Helleborus-argutifolius-Janet-Starnes_22
Helleborus argutifolius ‘Janet Starnes’ flower up close

This is the first hellebore I’ve managed to keep alive for more than a season, and to me it’s eye candy year round.

Comments

  1. It's an eye candy indeed! Love the finely speckled white leaves!

    I think the foliage of some hellebores are underrated. It's understandable that most of the attention goes to its flowers but some types have gorgeous foliage like the one you have. There was an article on the RHS magazine 'The Garden' a month or so ago highlighting the wonderful foliage of some hellebores and the ones they featured are all garden worthy juts by their leaves alone.

    Hopefully you'll discover more varieties that will do well in your location :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will definitely look for more hellebores. Check out this wholesale hellebore breeder: Northwest Garden Nursery. Their hybrids are stunning!

      But as beautiful as the flowers are, the foliage has to be attractive, too, because that's what you see 10+ months out of the year.

      Delete
  2. Very nice! I see hellebores around the neighborhood (a few at least) but don't grow any myself.

    Also, hostas don't make me yawn. They do make me want to chase deer while screaming though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aah, deer. That's not a problem around here. But then, we have rats, LOL.

      I think hellebores would like great planted next to your stream.

      Delete
  3. So glad you have a hellebore to enjoy - they are wonderful plants. I also have one with flower color like yours which I just love, but your foliage is awesome!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment