Helleborus hybridus ViV Elena

Oriental Hellebore Elena is one of the earliest varieties of this excellent Viv series, blooming from October to November. This Lenten Rose produces stunning double flowers, in a beautiful pinkish-red, enhanced by a contrasting yellow stamen centre. It is a robust and hardy perennial, easy to grow in all regions. It will make beautiful beds in shaded areas, and its compact growth also allows for easy cultivation in pots. Plant it under deciduous trees, where it will bloom at the base in autumn.

ViV Hellebores are varieties resulting from in-vitro multiplication. Unlike varieties resulting from seed multiplication, hellebores produced by in-vitro guarantee a rigorously identical flowering to the variety they come from. They have the same genetic characteristics as the mother plant, are more vigorous, and develop uniformly.

Oriental Hellebore Viv Elena belongs to the Ranunculaceae family, which includes around sixty genera and approximately 2500 species, mostly herbaceous. The species Helleborus orientalis is native to Greece, Turkey, and the central and eastern Caucasus. It is a perennial plant that readily hybridizes with other species, resulting in hybrids with varied colours and forms. These hybrids are rarely given variety names, but are distinguished by their shape and colour characteristics. The Oriental 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 (2,187 yards) altitude.

Elena forms a compact clump, 35 to 45 cm (14 to 18in) high and about 30 cm (12in) wide. Its foliage consists of palmate, slightly toothed, dark green and glossy, evergreen basal leaves which live for 8 months and are regularly replaced by new leaves. Elena blooms in autumn from October to November, significantly earlier than most other varieties of Oriental Hellebore. The flowers are composed of multiple rows of petals, increasing in size from the centre outwards, resembling certain double Clematis flowers, which also belong to the Ranunculaceae family. Their unique shape and dark pinkish-red colour, enhanced by a central bouquet of yellow stamens, give them an irresistible romantic charm. They are inclined downwards, allowing water to slide off like an umbrella to protect the flower's heart from rotting. Hellebores do not like to be moved once established, and young plants sometimes take time to bloom, so be careful to choose their location carefully.

Hellebores are truly captivating perennial plants, unrivalled in brightening up the dark days of autumn and winter. With its early and long-lasting flowering, Elena will be perfect to accompany other Hellebores with winter blooms, extending the flowering season. Plant with delicious Sarcococca hookeriana, a small evergreen bush with elegant foliage that is covered in highly fragrant flowers in winter and then produces decorative black fruits. Sculptural Mahonia bealei will also allow you to enjoy its abundant yellow flowering in the heart of winter and add volume to your winter bed.