Helleborus HGC Liara

The Liara Hellebore is a variety of Hybrid Christmas Rose with long-lasting flowering, from December to spring. This compact selection with beautiful dark green evergreen foliage produces large single flowers with white-pink petals and a deep pink reverse. A heart of yellow stamens adds a beautiful touch of romance to these stunning corollas. Hardy and very resilient, this perennial can be grown in borders or under shrubs as well as in pots. Easy to grow in all regions, even in heavy and chalky soil, it thrives in partial shade or non-scorching sun. Its beautiful flowers are precious in winter bouquets.

Hellebore is a member of the Ranunculaceae family, which includes around sixty genera and approximately 2500 species. Many of them are poisonous and contain substances which are toxic when ingested, a natural protection against herbivores. The Helleborus genus includes about twenty species, some of which have been crossbred to create new plants. Helleborus x lemperii is a hybrid obtained by fertilization between H. niger, the Christmas Rose, and H. x hybridus, a crossbreeding that was considered impossible a few years ago. The German company Heuger, located in Glandorf, Lower Saxony, has distinguished itself by launching the HGC range (Helleborus Gold Collection), characterized by good frost resistance, particularly large flowers carried by sturdy stems, an extended flowering period, and good suitability for pot cultivation.

H.G.C Liara is in bloom from early December, and the flower buds continue to appear until March-April. Large flowers up to 10 cm (4in) in diameter form, displaying their white petals, veined with pink. Overlapping each other, these wide petals form a cup-shaped corolla with a deep pink reverse, tending towards fuchsia. The romantic beauty of these flowers is further enhanced by numerous yellow stamens in the centre. Rising above the foliage, these corollas are highly visible and highlighted by the darker background of the leaves. They bloom vertically, as is the case with most Hellebore varieties. They may even slightly tilt downward, allowing water to slide off like an umbrella, preventing accumulation in the centre that could lead to rotting. The foliage consists of palmate, slightly toothed, dark green and glossy evergreen basal leaves which only live for 8 months and are regularly replaced by new leaves. Their sculptural shape is particularly decorative throughout the year. Hellebore does not like to be moved once established, and young plants may take time to flower, so be sure to choose its location carefully and take care not to dig the nearby soil, as this could damage the roots. Resistant to temperatures as low as approximately -23°C (-9.4°F), it is a relatively easy plant to grow, thriving in partially shaded borders or even denser shade. Its compact and equally wide and tall habit (up to 50 cm (20in)) makes it a superb flowering pot plant to decorate a balcony or terrace.

Hellebores are a group of plants that can flower in your shaded borders from autumn to spring, by selecting different varieties from the wide range available. They are suitable for cut flowers as well as borders, edging, or even containers... Over time, Hellebore flowers do not wilt like the majority of other flowers, but rather dry up. Associate them with stunning Heucheras, a group of perennials which are highly ornamental for their delicate and airy flowering and the incredible range of colours in their foliage, spanning the entire chromatic palette from green, purple, bronze, pink, red, orange, even to white marbling! Tree Veronicas will also make good companions, provided that you choose sufficiently hardy varieties if you have cold winters, such as Hebe Sutherlandii, which forms a superb small dome with tiny grey-green leaves, highly decorative in all seasons and reaching their peak in summer with white flower spikes.