Plant hellebores for fabulously unpredictable blooms through winter, says Anne Swithinbank
WINTER can be long and bleak unless you happen to be a canny gardener. We stretch autumn to early December, enjoy the distractions of Christmas and New Year, then just when the prospect of another three gloomy months looms, our gardens erupt with winter flowering shrubs, snowdrops, winter aconites and the fabulous, often unpredictable blooms of oriental hellebores.There are 15 species of hellebores belonging to the buttercup family with their origins in Europe and Western Asia. All have their place in the garden but the largest and most flamboyant are known as Helleborus x hybridus because they are hybrids between H. orientalis (The Lenten Rose) and other species.
Denne historien er fra November 4,2017-utgaven av Amateur Gardening.
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Denne historien er fra November 4,2017-utgaven av Amateur Gardening.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
To dig or not to dig?
Should we be carrying out a full dig on plots now? Bob considers the pros and cons of the 'autumn dig' debate
The box ball blues
As if his beleaguered box hadn't already taken a beating, Toby now has to deal with some hungry box caterpillars
Save your own seeds
Masterclass on: seed saving
Strange sightings
Three unusual insects turn up in Val's garden in one day
A bolt from the blue!
Cornflowers are perfect for garden and vase
Winter moth prevention
Ruth shows you how to avoid maggoty tree fruits
Create a winter container
There are as many options as in summer
Lightweight gardening tools
AS well as being good for our mental health, gardening is also great exercise.
Autumn price round-up
AG finds better bargains in lesser-known brands
Rudbeckias
Rudbeckias are ideal for sunny summer patios and borders, with some able to survive our coldest winters
