Helleborus hybridus ViV Alessandra

Alessandra is a variety of Oriental Hellebore with flowers as romantic as its name. Flowering in the heart of winter for long weeks, this Lenten Rose produces simple flowers, of a pastel pink, illuminated with a yellow stamen heart. These charming flowers, in the shape of a flared cup, stand out well above the dark green foliage, which accentuates them. The deeply cut, evergreen leaves are sculptural and form a stout tuft, as wide as it is tall, decorative all year round. This Hellebore is a robust and hardy perennial, easy to grow in all regions. It prefers neutral to alkaline soils, but it also tolerates some acidity. It mainly needs moisture and protection from bright sun and can be grown in a pot.

Hellebore Alessandra is a member of the Ranunculaceae family, which has about sixty genera and around 2500 species. Many of them are poisonous and contain substances which are toxic if ingested - a natural protection to prevent them from being grazed by herbivores. Despite this, they are valuable plants in the garden, as many genera are very ornamental thanks to their remarkable flowering, such as Anemones, Buttercups, Trolls, Aconites, and many others, including Clematis. The species Helleborus orientalis is native to Greece, Turkey, and the centre and east of the Caucasus. It is a perennial plant that hybridizes very easily with other species to produce many hybrids with varied colours and shapes. These hybrids are rarely given variety names; they are distinguished by their shape and colour. The hybrid Hellebore is a hardy plant that can withstand temperatures down to -15°C (5°F), naturally growing in forests, thickets, and clearings up to 2,000m (2,187 yards) altitude.
Alessandra is a variety that comes from a Belgian company specializing in the in vitro propagation of Hellebores. This method of propagation ensures the perfect transmission of genes and the stability of the species, which are all perfectly identified by their name as a result. Alessandra is part of a large collection of hybrids selected for their compactness and floribundance. This variety forms a clump 35 to 45 cm (14 to 18in) high and wide, and this limited growth makes it easy to grow in a pot to decorate a balcony or terrace. In the garden, it will be decorative all year round with its compact habit and sculptural appearance. Its vegetation consists of palmate, slightly toothed, dark green and glossy, evergreen basal leaves which only live for 8 months and are regularly replaced by new leaves. Their artistic shape is particularly decorative throughout the year.
Alessandra blooms during a dreary period characterized by short days and low light. Its light flowering is therefore particularly appreciated to liven up a bed from January to early spring. Its simple flowers consist of 5 petals that form a flared corolla, in a beautiful pastel pink, with discreet small dots. The yellow heart from which the stamens emerge adds an additional attraction to these bright flowers. They are also magnified by the dark background of the foliage, above which they rise gallantly to allow us to admire them even better. As with most varieties, these romantic flowers are arranged in a vertical plane, or even slightly inclined downwards, to let water slide off like an umbrella, avoiding accumulation in the centre that could cause rotting. Hellebore does not like to be moved once established, with young plants sometimes taking time to flower. Choose their location carefully.
This perennial adapts to neutral to moderately alkaline soils, or even slightly acidic, preferably rich, and moisture-retaining, although an established plant can withstand dry conditions. However, make sure the soil is well-drained, as Hellebore does not tolerate excess water in winter. It will be at its best under a leafy tree, which allows winter sun to pass through but protects it from the bright summer sun. Its compact habit  allows it to make a superb flowering pot to decorate a balcony or terrace.

Hellebores are essential for bringing joy in winter, at a time when flowers are rare in the garden. Alessandra will therefore be well-placed in a decorative winter bed where you can plant it alongside other varieties of Hellebores as well as bushes in the background to add volume. Sarcococca hookeriana is a low-growing bush that is relatively unknown despite its many advantages, including beautiful dark green and shiny evergreen foliage and highly perfumed white flowers in the middle of winter, followed by decorative black fruits the following summer. Measuring less than 1m (3ft) in height, you can plant it just behind your Hellebore border, to support it in the background, Golden King Aucuba japonica will provide the bright contrast of its abundantly speckled yellow foliage.