Helleborus hybridus ViV Liliana

Oriental Hellebore ViV Liliana is a variety with abundant flowering in autumn and early winter. Blooming fro several weeks from late October, this Lenten Rose produces single, dark red flowers with well-opened petals, almost wine-coloured, contrasting with the yellow heart. It is a robust and hardy perennial, easy to grow in all regions, in rich, well-drained soil that is not too dry. It especially needs moisture and protection from strong sunlight and can thrive perfectly in shade. Its evergreen foliage forms a compact clump, beautiful in borders, and it can also be grown in pots.

The ViV Hellebores are varieties derived from in vitro multiplication. Unlike varieties derived from seed multiplication, they guarantee a flowering that is rigorously identical to the variety from which they originated and have the same genetic characteristics as the mother plant, are more vigorous, and develop uniformly.

Hellebore Liliana 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 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 forms. These hybrids are rarely given variety names but are distinguished by their shape and colour. Oriental Hellebore is a hardy plant that can tolerate temperatures down to -15 °C, naturally growing in forests, thickets, and clearings up to 2,000 m (2,187 yards) altitude.

Liliana is part of a large collection of hybrids selected for their compactness and floribundance. This variety forms a clump that is 35 to 45 cm (14 to 18in) tall and about forty wide. Its vegetation consists of palmate, slightly toothed, dark green and shiny, evergreen basal leaves which actually only live for 8 months and are regularly replaced by new leaves. Liliana is very floriferous for long weeks from October until December. Its flowers consist of 5 well-opened petals, of a superb dark red, almost wine colour, highlighted by the yellow heart from which the stamens emerge. This colourful flowering perfectly matches the dark foliage, in a very refined colour combination. The corolla is positioned vertically, or even inclined downwards, allowing water to slide off like an umbrella, preventing accumulation in the heart that could cause rotting. Hellebores do not like to be moved once established, with young plants sometimes taking time to bloom. So be sure to choose their location carefully.

Hellebores are valuable perennial plants for their flowering which is different from most other plants. You can create an original scene by planting Rubus thibetanus Silver Fern in the background, an ornamental bramble with very white stems that will create an elegant contrast with the dark flowers of Liliana in winter. Symphoricarpos doorenbosii White Hedge, a Symphoricarpos with decorative berries that will accompany the flowering of Liliana, is also a highly recommended companion for your semi-shaded border. And to take over from Liliana's flowering, many other varieties of Helleborus will offer you their white, green, pink, or purple corollas from the early days of the year to the beginning of spring...