Helleborus Walberton’s Rosemary (Hellebore)

Incredibly floriferous, Helleborus ‘Walberton’s Rosemary’ or ‘Walhero’ is the pretty result of a cross between Helleborus niger (Christmas Rose) and Helleborus x hybridus (Lenten Rose). Opening from rich pink flower buds, plentiful star-shaped, clear pink flowers with pointed and slightly ruffled petals, appear from late winter to mid-spring. Veined with white, they are adorned with a central white glow and occasional dark pink freckles. Over time, the flowers take on rich, glowing salmon tones before slowly turning green. Unlike most hellebores, the flowers face outward attracting interest. These dainty beauties rise on sturdy stems high above particularly handsome foliage of leathery, evergreen leaves. Showy and long-lasting, ‘Walberton’s Rosemary’ is extremely vigorous, establishes quickly, and is sterile, therefore it blooms for an extended period and will not produce inferior seed.

• Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
• Grows in a bushy, upright clump, up to 12-18 in. tall (30-45 cm) and 18-24 in. across (45-60 cm).
• Performs best in part shade in fertile, humus-rich, moist, neutral to alkaline, well-drained soils. Can tolerate some sun. Avoid soils prone to drying out or staying wet.
• Select a sheltered site to protect your hellebores from cold winter winds.
• Easy to grow, this plant is a welcomed addition to shady borders, city gardens, coastal gardens, rock gardens, under trees or large shrubs, woodland gardens, or cottage gardens. Plant in groups for the best visual impact.
• Hellebore flowers provide valuable nectar for early pollinators. Hellebore is not generally a plant that deer or other animals seek out to eat, but if other food sources are scarce, they may come along and make a meal out of your Hellebore.
• No serious pest or disease issues. Keep an eye out for aphids, snails, hellebore leaf spot, and hellebore black death.
• Remove faded or damaged foliage as the flowers appear.
• Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame as soon as seed is ripe, or by division in late spring after flowering. Named cultivars do not come true from seed.
• Ingestion may cause severe discomfort, skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling.
• Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses, toxic to humans.