Helleborus Party Dress Picotee
Helleborus Party Dress Picotee
Over the many years in which we have been gardening we often had Hellebores. In more recent years they were largely replaced with Summer flowering annuals. I think we were becoming too concerned with this blast of colour achieved in Summer.
It now seems that our love affair with the annual is over. Don’t get me wrong, you will still see signs of them in our garden, especially the front, although more permanency has found its way there also.
Well today its all about Hellebores and how a few of them are bringing delight and interest to the back garden.
Party Dress Picotee started to flower on the third week of February.
The Helleborus x Hybridus Party Dress Picotee is looking good in its first year. It hasn’t bulked up as yet although it has several healthy looking blooms. The white double flowers have just a hint of pink. I am very pleased with this plant and have to confess, perennials are much more exciting and satisfying than the annuals.
Hardiness – Fully hardy and clump forming
Height – 45cm/18″
Position – Sun/part shade
Soil – Any reasonably fertile soil with good drainage, don’t allow to dry out.
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The second Hellebore Yellow Lady is another which we planted in late Autumn of last year.
Helleborus Orientalis Yellow Lady (Lenten Rose) looking pretty good. I posted a picture of this one a few weeks ago, the first bloom opened and it was malformed, I was not very complimentary regarding it. A couple of folks tried to tell me it looked very pretty, a bit of kidoligy going on there then. Well anyway here it is now looking as it should.
The pale yellow flowers blooming in late Winter early Spring are spotted a reddish maroon colour. When the buds develop to a stage where they are about to open, is the time when I like to cut back the old foliage. Generally tidies up the plant and shows them off to their best. Once again plant in sun/half shade. The blooms of Yellow lady seem to hold their heads a little higher than does the Party dress series.
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Here we have Party Dress Purple.
Very striking yet small is the deep purple flowers of this one, well to be quite honest they are tiny. However they contrast very well with Picotee.
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Party Dress Pink was the first of our new Hellebores to flower.
Blooming at the end of January the quality of the flowers surprised me.
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The final one Helleborus Purpurascens has enjoyed a position in several spots of the back garden for many years. Planted in quite deep shade the blooms of this one start opening in mid March.
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A few pictures of what’s in the garden at the end of February
Crocus opening fully on February 28th, 17c, warmest Winter day in 110 years. See how the Snowdrops are just going over.
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The Holly Golden King hanging on to a few berries. This one is my favourite. Perhaps they don’t berry as profusely as some of the others, but my how it lightens up the garden on a dreich Winters day.
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Dwarf Daffodil Tete e Tete opening up their blooms nicely on the first of March.
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I started off the Begonia Flamboyants in the greenhouse at the end of February. Previously we had 260 of these tubers and I would first set them out in trays. I have cut back the quantity considerably making the job less of a hastle. Starting them off directly in the pots will see them through the next eleven weeks or so when it will then be time for bedding them out.
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The flowering currant Ribes White Icicle on the left. The flowers on the 4th of March not quite fully open. It may be a common old shrub, but there is never any fear of it letting you down, and it looks really good in our woodland, positioned where it catches a fair bit of sunshine. Picture on the right is the flower carpet Rose Amber, now! just how evergreen is this one, picture taken on 4th March.
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This early flowering Tulip opened up its first bloom on the 29th of February
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So much going on in your garden right now its such a joy to watch it waking up to spring. But I have to confess to thinking “Does EVERYTHING grow better in Alistair’s garden?” on more than one visit to your blog!
It is great to see Spring arrive Christine. Naw things don’t grow better in our garden, just at times have the knack what to show.
Those ‘Party Dress’ Hellebores are simply beautiful. Loved ‘Picotee’, the Purple and the Pink. The combination of the Daffodils and that brilliant blue pot is terrific. They certainly go well together. Can’t wait to see those Begonias in their beds blooming beautifully. Well that was a mouthful!
Thanks for your kind comments Bernie, take care not to get tongue tied.
It seems you have quite a lot going on in your garden! Love your hellebores, I must add some of them to my garden too, as soon as I’ll have some reliable shady corner… I need the trees to bulk up a little more…
Hello Alberto, I am sure the shade from these trees will be welcome on some of those hot Summer days which you get.
Good Morning Alistair! As I read your post I realize that I am very like minded regarding annuals and their status in the gardens…. while I still have a great many ordered for this year, I sense the pendulum turning… especially towards woodlanders but also a return to more perennials which used to be a big thing for me but eventually were phased out to a great extent. Hellebores are also becoming much more important here and I have 100 new plants ordered for this season… I guess I’m looking to broaden the time spectrum of the garden and extend seasons on both ends. Thanks for your excellent post today. We are anticipating 70 degrees F next week… very early I’m afraid and I am concerned about getting a blast of arctic air after what will be two weeks of very warm temps coming our way… take care, Larry
Hello Larry, seems like our gardening goes through different phases and then we return to what gave us the most satisfaction. As I say, you will still see blasts of Summer colour in our garden but I fear it may be red and more red. Enjoy the warmer weather while it lasts.
Wow those are beautiful hellebres…lovely daffs in the gorgeous blue pot…I have a blue pot the same color and it is my fav…our record high on 3/7 was 68…now snow again so no new blooms…good news is 60s starting tomorrow and through the week…the pond will thaw again…so looking forward to maybe doing a bit of gardening tomorrow if the weather cooperates and the bit of snow melts in time.
Hello Donna, enjoy your week ahead, 60s is just perfect for working outdoors.
What wonderful goings-on in your garden Alistair! I especially love that double white hellebore ‘Party Dress’, and your holly. I never see holly growing in my area, although according to “the books” it is supposed to be hardy enough for us. Maybe it’s a long shot, but I will probably have to give it a try. You are going to have lots of begonias!
Hello Spurge, The white Hellebore was delivered as a replacement for one that was out of stock, so glad it did.
Wonderful hellebore collection you have Alistair. I have the colors but no doubles. I think the whites are the nicest and your double one is awesome. Those begonias are lucky plants to have you looking after them so carefully. Reminds me I need to give Max a bath today–he’s spoiled too.
I wasn’t too sure about ordering doubles Linnie, but yes they have turned out better than I would have expected.
Hi Alistair!
Your Hellebores are stunningly beautiful! Wow! And the photography is second to none. I really enjoyed this post.
It’s still minus 3 here today but some kind of warm trend is coming in tomorrow – expected high = 13C! Yay!! I plan to be outside all day.
Astrid
Yes Astrid it is time for a little warmer weather.
I love hellebores. You have some particularly beautiful ones. I have only 3 varieties and would really like some more. If I had the space I could see myself getting quite a collection. Although that would be a fairly expensive hobby!!!
Yes Wellywoman, I also like them but not so sure if I would like them to take up too much garden space
I love your Hellebore Party Dress Pink. I planted a few hellebores last year. They’ve got really nice leaves, would have liked some flowers as well though. My old hellebores are flowering well, but they are all the same colour. Looks like I’ll have to wait another year for a bit of variety.
These ones have flowered in the first year Crystal. Perhaps they were larger specimens than yours.
I loved your hellebores, I got 5, but one of them hasn’t flowered the last couple of years. It comes up with lots of leaves but no flowers. Not sure why, as I have never given any of my hellebores fertiliser or any other treatment, and it’s just the one that has decided not to flower anymore. No flowers this year either, think it is the third year in a row. Any suggestion?
Your tulips are gorgeous 🙂
Helene, sometimes no matter what we do some plants just wont perform well. Most Hellebores seem to like a shady or semi shaded spot, apparently there are some which like full sun. Carolyn is a real expert on Hellebores.
http://carolynsshadegardens.com/
I’ve never seen a Hellebore up close and personal. Yours are lovely.
Thank you for the peek into your greenhouse, one of my fav things to see.
Nell Jean, you have to be a bit of a contortionist regards viewing some of the Hellebores.
Alistair – It seems that ugly betty has turned into a swan. Interesting to see how you prepare the begonias with such care. Never seen such a disease-free rose bush.
Yes b-a-g, Betty has also turned out to be the one which has clumped up most.
You have an impressive collection of hellebores, they are so beautiful, thank you for these lovely pictures. Your spring bulbs look great, especially the tulips which I love… I hope your begonias grow well, and am looking forward to seeing pictures of them in bloom.
Hello Masha, The begonias are actually all red, don’t tell anyone.
Dear Alistair, Hellebores have gained in popularity in America over the past few years. I love them and yours are stunning. I find annuals useful because of their long blooming time and I like to grow them in pots so I can move them into bare spots when necessary. But perennials are my cup-of-tea. P. x
Yes Pam, I also will always find the need for some annuals.
Your hellebores are dressed for a great spring party! And I love the flowering currant! A common old shrub? I am not familiar with it, but it looks like something I need to consider for my own garden.
The flowering currant also comes in shades of red and pink Deb.
Trying to find my fav’ in this beautiful photographic list…hmmm…think it’s gotta be Party Dress Pink, followed up closely by Yellow Lady . Spring is FINALLY here…REJOICE!! x
I’m rejoicing I’m rejoicing.
Ah, looks like spring has sprung! I am going to try planting some hellebores here. I’m afraid it may be a bit too hot/dry for them, but in gardening, sometimes you don’t know until you try, right? Party Dress is gorgeous, but I think I like Yellow Lady the best. Something about those spots…
Holley, I am all for having a go unless the odds are too highly against it.
Hi Alistair,
You have such a nice array of hellebores in your garden. I only have a few pale pink ones and would love to add the dark wine/purple like your Party Dress Purple.
Yesterday, we broke a record for temperatures in March. Seems the weather is warmer than usual globally. Your images of the crocus are especially nice. They look really vivid illuminated as they are by the light.
So many Begonia Flamboyants! I am sure the work potting them up is well worth it come summer.
The weather is warmer Jennifer, I hope we are not let down in Summer like last year.
These are lovely examples of the beauty in your garden. The colors in many of your selected blooms is stunning. I particularly like the Party Dress hellebore and the lavender hues of your crocus. My tulips are breaking ground, but none have budded. It was 70-plus degrees F here today, and I was weeding and trimming liriope. So, I suspect things will move along quite quickly.
SB, 70F is just perfect for working outdoors
I am amused by your flowers. Alistair! Can’t even choose a favorite one. I’ve never seen this type of Helleborus. Gorgeous! Crocuses are so vibrant! Good luck with your begonias, I am impressed with the numbers!
Thanks Tatyana, I am also amused by them, and yet there are occasions when I am amazed.
Party Dress Pink is spectacular. Glad that you like hellebores so much.
Pleased to become reacquainted with them Carolyn.
You really have quite a bit in bloom and some very pretty Hellebores. I only have one in bloom but a few more are on the way. Last year they were blooming with snow atop them. This year, the one opened the day after the snow.
Spring is early this year Donna, hope it doesn’t all go downhill.
Hi Alastair, I think hellebores are MUCH more desirable than annuals – personally I can hardly have too many. And their variety have increased so much in the last few years. I think my faves are the darkest ones, nearly black. That greenhouse looks very cosy and impressive. Here we have potting sheds, not usually greenhouses. Maybe because they would get too hot?
Catmint, I can very well imagine that a greenhouse would be of little use in your part of the world.
A fine example of hellebores Alistair. I much prefer the darker stong colours than than the more pastel shades. But you have a find selection of them all. We mostly grow Hellebores with interesting leaf forms rather than interesting flowers. On discussing this point recently we were asked if we cut the flowers off!! (we dont of course)
Mark/Gaz, well I would have imagined that you would have sourced Hellebores with interesting leaves, however removing the flowers would have been taking it to extremes.