Helleborus hybridus ViV Valentina

Valentina is a variety of Oriental Hellebore with long-lasting flowering. Appearing from January, its single flowers follow one another until March, thus announcing spring in a beautiful way. Their intense purple-red hue is further enhanced by a yellow stamen heart. This perennial has decorative foliage all year round, composed of deeply cut dark green leaves with a shiny surface, which provide a true setting for the corollas. This Hellebore forms a dense and compact clump that can be grown in a large pot, to decorate a balcony, as well as in the ground in the garden. It needs a shady position and neutral to limestone soil, but it also tolerates some acidity. It is hardy enough to be planted in practically all regions.

Hellebore Valentina is a member of the Ranunculaceae family, which includes about sixty genera and around 2500 species. Many are poisonous beauties, meaning they contain toxic substances 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 highly ornamental thanks to their remarkable flowering, such as Anemones, Buttercups, Trollius, Aconites, and many others, not to mention Clematis. The species Helleborus orientalis is native to Greece, Turkey, and the central and eastern Caucasus. It is a perennial plant that hybridises very easily with other species to produce, through random sowing, hybrids with highly varied colours and forms, so that varieties are rarely named for these hybrids. They are distinguished by their shape and colour characteristics. 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 2,000 m (7ft) altitude.
Valentina is a variety distributed by a Belgian company specialising in the in vitro selection and multiplication of Hellebores. This method of propagation ensures the perfect transmission of genes and the stability of the varieties, which are therefore all perfectly identified by their name. Valentina is part of a large collection of hybrids selected for their compactness and abundant flowers. This variety forms a clump 40 cm (16in) high and equally wide, particularly well suited for pot cultivation. Plant it on your balcony or patio, and this beautiful potted plant will offer you a winter spectacle of great beauty. The leaves are evergreen in winter. In reality, they only live for 8 months and are regularly replaced by new leaves. Their very graphic shape is particularly decorative throughout the year.

Valentina will reward you with long-lasting flowering. Appearing in January, the flowers continue until March, making Valentina one of the best varieties for winter. The single flowers with 5 petals have a deep purple-red colour, with a yellow stamen centre that forms a superb contrast with the dark corolla. Clearly visible above the foliage, these flowers, highlighted by the darker background of the leaves, bloom vertically, as is the case with most Hellebore varieties. They can even slightly tilt downwards, allowing water to slide off like an umbrella, preventing accumulation in the centre which could cause rotting. Hellebore does not like to be moved once established, with young shoots sometimes taking time to flower. Therefore, be careful when choosing their location during planting.
This perennial adapts to neutral to moderately alkaline (limestone) soils, and even slightly acidic ones, preferably rich and retaining some moisture, although a well-established plant can withstand dry conditions. However, ensure that the soil is well-drained, as Hellebore does not tolerate excess water in winter. It will be at home under a leafy tree, which allows winter sun to pass through but protects it from the summer sun, which is too intense for it. Its compact habit, wider than tall, makes it a superb potted plant to decorate a balcony or terrace.

Few perennials can rival Lenten Roses in brightening up the dark winter days. Valentina is one of the most generous representatives with its long flowering, which will brighten up your bed duringthe winter season. You can associate this Hellebore with other perennials that flower in spring or summer, creating an attractive bed all year round. Plant it alongside other shade-loving plants, such as Epimedium, with their light foliage and even more airy flowers, and a distinction that is equalled only by their variety of shapes and colours. Caucasian Forget-Me-Not or Brunnera will also be an excellent companion for Valentina. Its blue or white flowers rise above foliage that is often remarkably decorative, sometimes green, sometimes marbled with white depending on the varieties. Finally add a few clumps of Bleeding Heart (Dicentra), a charming perennial with delicate flowers and more or less cut foliage, green, greyish, or golden.