Helleborus hybridus (orientalis) ViV 'Wanda'

The Oriental Hellebore Viv 'Wanda' is a vigorous variety with a long autumn and winter flowering period. Blooming from November onwards, this Lenten Rose produces large single flowers that are initially white, turning pink before fading. It is a robust and hardy perennial that can grow easily in all regions, even in heavy soil. It will be perfect in mixed borders alongside other shade-loving plants. Plant it on the edge of deciduous trees, where it will flower at the base in autumn.

The Hellebore (or Christmas Rose) Wanda is a member of the Ranunculaceae family, which includes around sixty genera and approximately 2500 species. Helleborus orientalis is native to Greece, Turkey, and the central and eastern Caucasus. It is a perennial plant that readily hybridises with other species, resulting in various colours and forms of hybrids. As a result, these hybrids are rarely given specific names and are instead distinguished by their shape and colour characteristics. The hybrid Hellebore is a hardy plant that can tolerate temperatures as low as -15°C, naturally growing in forests, thickets, and clearings up to 2,000 m altitude.
The cultivar 'Wanda' is a Belgian selection of an extensive collection of selected Viv hybrids known for their compactness and floriferousness. While 'Wanda' offers a long flowering period, it is also one of the largest varieties, forming a clump that reaches 55 to 60 cm in height and 45 cm in width. It thrives in the light shade of deciduous trees or even in denser shade, such as that provided by conifers. Its foliage consists of palmate, slightly dentate basal leaves that are dark green and glossy. These leaves are evergreen in winter, although they only live for eight months and are regularly replaced by new leaves.
'Wanda' blooms in autumn and winter, from November to February, bringing light to the often dark skies. Its single flowers have five well-spaced petals with a rounded tip that slightly curves upwards, forming a wide cup. They are cream-white, sometimes subtly tinged with pale green. A bouquet of white stamens occupies the centre, with their yellow anthers being visually inconspicuous, except when the corolla starts to turn pink before fading. This ever-changing flowering is perfectly highlighted against the dark backdrop of the foliage, creating a pleasant contrast. Hellebores do not like to be moved once established, and young shoots may occasionally take time to flower. Therefore, it is essential to carefully choose their location when planting.
This perennial will thrive under a leafy tree, which will allow the winter sun to shine through while protecting it from the intense summer sun.

Hellebores are essential perennial plants for enjoying flowers during the year's shortest days. You can plant this 'Wanda' variety alongside other perennials or shrubs with staggered flowering periods to enjoy year-round flowers or create a winter scene. Include some shrubs with colourful branches in your border, such as the Rubus thibetanus Silver Fern with white stems or the Cornus alba Siberian Pearls. This Dogwood has red mahogany wood. Similarly, add a tree with decorative bark to shade your scene, such as the Prunus maackii Amber Beauty or Manchurian Cherry, with its stunning coppery trunk from a young age. Scatter a few clumps of Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) here and there, and you will never consider winter as the "bad season" again.