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Hellebore:Everything youneed to know
Hellebores are a beautiful flowering plant that brightens up even the greyest of winters. The petals of the hellebore flower come in a range of elegant shades, including greens, ivories, pinks and rubies. It’s this sumptuous selection of colours that helps make it such a popular flower for your home. Discover more about what makes hellebores so special.
FACTS ABOUT THE HELLEBORE FLOWERS
Hellebores are a protected species found in mountainous areas around Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. Blooming at their best during the winter months, it’s no surprise that one type of hellebore flower is known as the Christmas rose. The fact that they’re also symbols of peace, tranquillity and serenity makes them the perfect festive flower. However, they can also represent stress and anxiety – so make sure you include a personalised message to make your intent clear!
HISTORY OF THE HELLEBORE
Hellebores have long been a fascinating flower in terms of their history and mythology. As one of the symbols of the Roman Goddess Minerva, it is no surprise that hellebores are held in such high esteem. In fact, one of the very first mentions of the hellebore was by the Roman philosopher Pliny – so you know this flower is a stunner if it’s been turning heads for so long.
Despite its beauty and evergreen foliage, the name hellebore actually comes from the Ancient Greek meaning “injure food”, referring to the plant’s common use as a poison. Nevertheless, hellebore was also used as a medicine to help treat madness, as well as cholera, gout and high blood pressure.
HELLEBORE VARIETIES
Maybe one of the reasons the hellebore flower has stood the test of time for centuries is that it comes in such a beautiful range of shades. No matter if you’re an Ancient Roman or a Gen Z kid, there’s bound to be a type of hellebore to warm up your winter.
Christmas rose
Despite its name, the Christmas rose doesn’t belong to the rose family but to the buttercup family. While a lot of hellebores get labelled as Christmas rose, it’s only the Helleborus Niger that it applies to. And there are no prizes for guessing why – this fabulous flower boasts pure white petals and rich green foliage that really shines during the winter months. This makes it the perfect flower to watch flourish during the festive period.
Harvington double yellow
This lemon-yellow hellebore variety is a joyful flower to lead you into spring. With open flowers and double rows of petals, this bright blossom is also bee-friendly. They tend to appear in late winter and last until April, so they make the perfect addition to any garden looking to attract some bumbling buddies in time for the warmer weather.
Fragrant hellebore
Fragrant by name, fragrant by nature – these hellebore flowers are known for their sweet blackcurrant scent. At peak bloom in winter and early spring, like so many other hellebore varieties, these sweet-smelling stems are a unique addition to any garden thanks to their rich green foliage and flowers. And, like other hellebores, they’re a perennial so they’ll keep coming back every year.
Garden black hellebores
The most dramatic member of the hellebore family, the petals of this type of hellebore are a rich purple – almost black – colour. Just as beautiful as the other hellebore flowers but with an added sense of mystery and intrigue, these gorgeous blossoms will thrive in winter just like their cousins.
HELLEBORE FLOWER DECORATIONS
There are also plenty of ways you can use these flowers inside the home as part of your interior decor. If you’re looking for some Christmas home decor inspiration, you’ll find that hellebores make the perfect festive flower thanks to their gorgeous appearance and seasonality.
Another great way to include hellebores in your home is as part of some table decorations or a centrepiece. If floral centrepieces are your thing, adding some thoughtfully placed hellebores can really make it pop. Consider adding some fragrant hellebores for a centrepiece that stimulates the senses – plus those delicate green petals means it’s the perfect complement to any other shades you want to include.
ARE HELLEBORES SAFE FOR PETS?
There’s a reason why this flower got its name – hellebore flowers are toxic. After all, they were being used in poison as far back as the Ancient Greek times, so humans have long known to keep these petals off their plates. However, animals may not have got the memo yet. If you have hellebores in your home or garden, be sure to keep them away from your pets. When ingested, hellebores can cause breathing difficulties and vomiting.
Hellebores have a disgusting taste, so many animals should know better than to try eating it. However, to be on the safe side, make sure to keep hellebores out of the reach of your pets.
HELLEBORE CARE TIPS
If you want to freshen up your home with a vase of these blooming beauties, then there are a couple of things you can do to keep your hellebores looking fresh:
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Trim away any leaves that will be submerged under the water to prevent rot
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Make sure the vase is topped up with clean, fresh and deep water
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Keep them in a cool part of the house (these flowers love the winter, don’t forget)
Hellebores have fascinated us since ancient times and it’s easy to see why. Just when we think our favourite flowers are out of season, the hellebore is ready to shine. Whether in your garden or artfully arranged in a vase, hellebores will spruce up any place in need of some petals.