A bashful little bloom, the faces of Helleborus ‘Orientalis White Spotted’ point modestly towards the ground. Gently lift the flowers up to reveal their astonishing, intricate beauty –double, frilled layers of alabaster petals are delicately stippled with burgundy freckles.
Helleborus ‘Orientalis White Spotted’ clusters of demure blooms are shown to advantage by glossy, serrated, evergreen foliage. The leathery, rabbit resistant leaves make excellent woodland ground cover.
Blooming from December to March, the flowers are invaluable to early-season pollinators when other nectar sources are scarce, hence the RHS ranks Hellebores highly in their ‘Plants for Pollinators’ scheme.
For flourishing Helleborus, choose a shaded area with well-composted, rich soil. Plant autumn or spring with the crown just under the surface of the soil, spacing plants 30 cm apart. Water in well and add a layer of leaf mould or compost around your plants.
An annual mulch will feed Hellebores sufficiently for the season. At the same time, it is wise to remove the foliage from plants to reduce the chance of disease and ensure the enchanting blooms are seen and appreciated.