Helleborus hybridus ViV Alessia

Oriental Hellebore Alessia is one of the earliest varieties in the ViV collection, flowering from September to October. This Lenten Rose forms a compact clump and can be planted in pots or in the ground, decorative all year round with its evergreen, dark green, cut foliage. The dark background enhances the double flowers, which are a mixture of pink and cream with yellow stamens at their centre. It is a robust and hardy perennial, easy to grow in all regions, even in heavy soil, although it prefers humus-rich soil. It will create beautiful borders in shaded areas, it dislikes direct sunlight.

ViV Hellebores are varieties obtained through in-vitro multiplication. Unlike varieties obtained through seed, in-vitro hellebores guarantee flowers that are exactly identical to the parent variety. They have the same genetic characteristics as the mother plant, are more vigorous, and develop uniformly.

Oriental Hellebore Viv Alessia belongs to the Ranunculaceae family, which includes around sixty genera and approximately 2500 species, mostly herbaceous. There are many ornamental plants with remarkable flowering, such as Anemones, Ranunculus, Cimicifuga, Columbines, and many others, including Clematis with their numerous flowering cultivars. Helleborus orientalis is native to Greece, Turkey, and the central and eastern Caucasus. It is a perennial plant that easily hybridizes with other species, resulting in hybrids with varied colours and forms. These hybrids are rarely given specific names and are instead distinguished by their shape and colour. Oriental Hellebore is a hardy plant that can withstand temperatures as low as -15°C and naturally grows in forests, thickets, and clearings up to an altitude of 2000 m (6562ft).

Alessia forms a compact clump that reaches a height of 35 to 45 cm (14 to 18in) and a width of about thirty centimetres. It thrives in light shade under deciduous trees or even in dense shade, such as that found in woodland. Its foliage consists of palmate, slightly toothed, dark green, shiny basal leaves. These leaves are evergreen although they only live for about 8 months and are regularly replaced by new leaves. Alessia is an exceptionally early variety that flowers from late summer, starting in September, and continues for several weeks, much earlier than most other Oriental Hellebore varieties. The flowers are double, with small narrow petals in the centre and larger petals forming a spreading outer crown. These medium-sized flowers are pink mixed with cream-white, some petals have a dark red central vein. With their yellow stamens, these flowers have a certain charm and stand out well against the dark foliage. The flowers are facing downwards, allowing water to slide off like an umbrella to protect the flower's centre from rotting. Hellebores do not like to be moved once established, and young plants may take some time to flower. Therefore, it is important to choose their planting location carefully.

Hellebores are remarkable plants with their flowering period differing from most other perennials. They allow for almost year-round blooming in borders mixing low shrubs and shade-tolerant perennials. Explore the rich family of Ranunculaceae, including Hellebores with winter flowering. There are numerous varieties available with white, green, pink, red, or even purple flowers, such as the wonderful Oriental Hellebore Luisa. For early spring, plant the surprising Trillium flexipes with its scuptural white flowers, followed by the charming Columbines with equally astonishing and sculptural flowers. Then, in summer, Aconitum Purple Sparrow produces graceful purple flower spikes, later replaced by Anemone hupehensis var.japonica with pretty, single, deep pink flowers with a golden centre, blooming from late August to early October, completing the cycle of seasons.