Helleborus × Hybridus Double Ellen Purple | 9cm Pot

A newly introduced variety. Position: partial shade Soil: heavy, neutral to alkaline soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: February to April Hardiness: fully hardy A relatively new introduction with deepest purple petals (the outermost often with a smattering of lighter speckles), surrounding the spider-like creamy yellow centre. Their brooding colouring adds depth to the planting scheme when mixed with softer shades of pink and lilac. Garden care: Add lots of well-rotted leaf mould or organic matter to the planting hole. Cut the old leaves back down to the ground in January or February as this will show off the new emerging flowers to best effect. It will also help to get rid of foliar diseases such as Hellebore leaf spot. Apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted organic matter around the base of the plant in autumn and provide a top-dressing of general fertiliser each spring. Cut off the seed heads to prevent inferior seedlings colonising.