Helleborus hybridus ViV Amalia

Oriental Hellebore Amalia is a variety from the Viv series with a flowering period spread between October and March. This Lenten Rose produces double, immaculate white flowers, enhanced by a bright lemon green centre from which cream-white stamens emerge. It is a robust and very hardy perennial, easy to grow in all regions. It forms a compact clump, decorative all year round thanks to its persistent shiny dark green foliage. Growing in partial shade to shade, it is the ideal plant to brighten up dark autumn and winter days. It likes moist, rich, and well-drained soils.

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

Hellebore Amalia belongs to the family of Ranunculaceae, 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 hybridizes very easily with other species to produce many hybrids with varied colours and forms. These hybrids are rarely given variety names; they are distinguished by their shape and colour. Oriental 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 (2,187 yards) altitude.

Amalia grows into a compact and leafy clump, reaching a height of 35 to 45 cm (14 to 18in) and a width of 30 to 35 cm (12 to 14in). It consists of evergreen, palmate, slightly toothed, dark green and shiny basal leaves, decorative all year round which only live for 8 months and are regularly replaced by new leaves. Amalia flowers between October and March, brightening up this gloomy time of year. It produces cup-shaped flowers with several rows of petals, characteristic of this group of hybrids. They are inclined downwards, letting water slide off like an umbrella to protect the heart of the flower from rotting. These flowers have pure white petals, with a very bright lemon green centre and creamy white stamens. The whole is highlighted by the dark background of the foliage, accentuating the luminous nature of the flowers. Hellebore does not like to be moved once established, with young plants sometimes taking time to flower. The seeds are sown by ants.

Hellebores are precious plants to brighten up the dark days of the end and beginning of the year, and Amalia's light flowering is particularly appropriate for this purpose. Plant it under the branches of a deciduous tree to protect it from the sun during the growing season and better enjoy its autumn and winter flowering; the pale winter sun does not harm it (in the south, shade from evergreens is preferable...). To create a decorative scene all year round, plant with the astonishing Abelia Magic Daydream with its semi-evergreen variegated white-cream foliage and abundant summer pink flowering. Another interesting contrast to add colour to a shady area can be achieved by planting the Aucuba japonica Golden king, with variegated evergreen foliage splashed with bright yellow. And to continue the white flowering of our Lenten Rose, Berberis linearifolia Orange King will offer you an explosion of a rare and absolutely dazzling bright orange in April.