- Botanical name: Helleborus orientalis 'Smokey Blue'
- Common name: Hellebore
- Family: Ranunculaceae
- Plant Type: Perennial, Evergreen
Purple
Green
- Key features:
- Attractive to wildlife
- Flowers
A winter-flowering staple in the cottage garden, hellebores produce large clusters of saucer-shaped flowers with white, pink, green, mauve or smoky purple flowers. The large leathery, evergreen leaves persist throughout the year but should be cut back in the spring when flowers and new foliage emerge. Plants hybridise and self-seed freely.
Helleborus orientalis ‘Smokey Blue’ is a hybrid hellebore, bearing nodding or outward-facing, saucer-shaped, flowers, in smoky purple, from February onwards. It’s perfect for growing in large clumps, particularly beneath trees in shady borders.
For best results, grow Helleborus orientalis ‘Smokey Blue’ in moist but well-drained soil in partial shade. Propagate by fresh seed, or divide plants in autumn or early spring. All parts of the plant may cause serious discomfort if ingested and the sap may irritate the skin.
How to grow Helleborus 'Smokey Blue'
-
Plant size
45cm height
45cm spread
-
Aspect
North facing, east facing, south facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Front
- Sun exposure: Full sun, dappled shade, partial shade, full shade
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy / clay / heavy / moist / chalky / alkaline / acidic
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do Plant in July |
A
Do Plant in August |
S
Do Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does flower in March |
A
Plant does flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does not flower in June |
J
Plant does not flower in July |
A
Plant does not flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Prune | ||||||||||||
| Prune |
J
Do not Prune in January |
F
Do not Prune in February |
M
Do Prune in March |
A
Do not Prune in April |
M
Do not Prune in May |
J
Do not Prune in June |
J
Do not Prune in July |
A
Do not Prune in August |
S
Do not Prune in September |
O
Do not Prune in October |
N
Do not Prune in November |
D
Do not Prune in December |
Helleborus 'Smokey Blue' and wildlife
Helleborus 'Smokey Blue' is known for attracting bees. It nectar-pollen-rich-flowers.
Attractive to Bees
Does not attract Beneficial insects
Does not attract Birds
Does not attract Butterflies/Moths
Does not attract Other pollinators
Is Helleborus 'Smokey Blue' poisonous?
Helleborus 'Smokey Blue' can be toxic.
Toxic to Cats
Toxic to Dogs
Toxic to Horses
Toxic to People
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Livestock
Plants that go well with Helleborus 'Smokey Blue'
