Helleborus hybridus ViV Gianina

Oriental Hellebore ViV Gianina is a recent variety with particularly early flowering. Blooming for several weeks from September, this Lenten Rose produces large double, open white flowers with a yellow stamen centre. This evergreen perennial with dark green leaves forms a fairly tall tuft, decorative in all seasons. Robust and very hardy, it is easy to grow in all regions. Plant it in light shade or even denser shade to protect it from the sun's intense rays, with other perennials to create a varied and colourful bed. It is a variety derived from in vitro culture, disease-free, more floriferous and more colourful than those from traditional propagation methods.

The ViV® Hellebores are varieties derived from in-vitro propagation. Unlike varieties derived from seed propagation, Hellebores produced by in-vitro guarantee flowering that is identical to the variety from which they are derived. They have the same genetic characteristics as the mother plant, are more vigorous and develop uniformly.

Hellebore ViV Gianina belongs to the Ranunculaceae family, which includes about sixty genera and around 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 to produce many hybrids with varied colours and forms. Variety names ar rarely given to these hybrids they are distinguished by their shape and colour. The Oriental Hellebore is a hardy plant that tolerates temperatures as low as -15°C, naturally growing in forests, thickets, and clearings up to an altitude of 2,000 m (2,187 yards).

Part of a wide range of hybrids selected for their compactness and abundant flowering, this variety has superior growth as it forms a tuft that can only reach 55 cm (22in) in height, with a width of about forty. Its vegetation consists of palmate, slightly toothed, dark green and shiny basal leaves. These are evergreen leaves which live for only 8 months and are regularly replaced by new leaves. Opening widely in all directions, they give Gianina a somewhat airy appearance, quite different from the compact and compressed habits of many other varieties in this group.
Gianina also flowers earlier than others, as early as September for many weeks until October and even later. The flowers are almost immaculately white, with only the base of the petals being slightly greenish, from where yellow stamens emerge in the centre. These are quite large flowers, with a row of outer petals that are well open and spread out and inner petals that are more wavy. These flowers are carried by fairly long peduncles that stand out distinctly from the mass of evergreen foliage, making them clearly visible with their size and light colour. They are inclined downwards, giving them a certain casual grace and allowing water to slide off like an umbrella protecting the heart, which would otherwise rot. Hellebore does not like to be moved once established, with young plants sometimes taking time to flower. So be sure to choose their location carefully when planting.

This Gianina Hellebore is a very beautiful perennial for autumn, which you can combine with other seasonal flowers. It will go well with small autumn Asters, such as the Aster dumosus Bahamas, which forms a short and compact tuft covered with bright pink star-shaped flowers from August and tolerates partial shade. To give a wild touch to a tree border, plant Eupatorium coelestinum behind Gianina, a plume-like blue-flowered Eupatorium that will harmonize beautifully with the pure white of our Oriental Hellebore. To extend the flowering season, mix it with other varieties of Winter Hellebores, and Cyclamen coum, which is also comfortable in woodland situations and will reward you with its beautiful pink flowers from January onwards.