Helleborus x hybridus Harvington Double Red

Helleborus x hybridus 'Harvington Double Red'

Helleborus x hybridus 'Harvington Double Red'

The goal of breeding a true red Hellebore has yet to be achieved, however these mid claret colours are a very beautiful starting point. The 'Harvington' strain seems to produce two distinct forms of flower. This form makes shaggy flowers with narrow inner tepals. As the flower ages, it hangs down and the inner tepals hang out like the tentacles of some strange sanguineous jellyfish.

Helleborus x hybridus 'Harvington Double Red'

The second form has flowers shaped into flat rosettes. In the best of them, the inner tepals form tightly imbricate patterns. I prefer these ones, but the globular shapes of the jellyfish work well in the garden.

With either form, it is as well to select one that you like while in flower.