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Herbaceous Perennial

Helleborus × hybridus Ashwood Garden hybrids
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

hellebore Ashwood Garden hybrids

Ashwood Garden hybrids are a seed-raised group of semi-evergreen herbaceous perennials, up to 30cm high, with dark green leaves, and flowers from late winter to spring in a wide range of forms, including single and double, plain, spotted, blotched and flushed forms, and in a wide range of colours, including white, green, yellow, peach, pink, purple, slate-grey, and black

Synonyms
Helleborus orientalis hort. Ashwood hybrids
Helleborus orientalis hort. Ashwood Garden hybrids
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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Black Green Grey Silver Orange Pink Purple White Yellow Green
Summer Green
Autumn Green
Winter Black Green Grey Silver Orange Pink Purple White Yellow Green
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

West–facing or East–facing or South–facing or North–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H7
Botanical details
Family
Ranunculaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Habit
Clump forming
Potentially harmful
Harmful if eaten, skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten, skin irritant. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus

Helleborus can be rhizomatous, herbaceous or semi-evergreen perennials forming a clump of pedate basal leaves, or evergreen with erect, leafy stems. Large, bowl-shaped flowers are borne in loose clusters in late winter or spring

Name status

Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Will tolerate a wide range of conditions, but does best in fertile, moisture-retentive, humus-rich but well-drained soil which is preferably heavy, and neutral or alkaline, in a position with shelter from strong, cold winds and in dappled shade, mulched every autumn with leaf mould, chipped bark or other organic matter; for more advice, see hellebore cultivation. Hellebore flowers provide nectar and pollen for early-flying bees

Propagation

Propagate by division of large clumps in early spring, watering well until they are established

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Ground cover
  • Banks and slopes
  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Pruning

Remove old leaves to help prevent hellebore leaf spot, and deadhead by removing old faded flower stems

Pests

May be susceptible to hellebore aphid, hellebore leaf miner and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to hellebore black death, hellebore leaf spot, downy mildews, grey moulds (botrytis), smuts, and virus diseases

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