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Hellebores planted on a slope
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Posted by sckudzugal 7 (My Page) on Fri, Jul 11, 08 at 9:45
| I have a large sloped area in the front of our house. It is a natural landscape with lots of dappled sunlight. I want to plant hellebores on the slope for continuous color and visual interest throughout the year. Currently it is home to lots of weeds and seedlings. The area has a clay based soil and has access to water by a sprinkler system. Does anyone know if these conditions would be good for hellebores? If not, what other plants might work well on a bank or slope? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Hellebores planted on a slope
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| As long it's moist and not in full sun, they should grow there. Might be a good idea to add some organic matter, like composted leaves, to the soil, and mulch after planting to keep those weeds down. |
Here is a link that might be useful: More info about growing Hellebores
RE: Hellebores planted on a slope
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| i agree as long as its moist and not in full sun it should grow there. |
RE: Hellebores planted on a slope
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FWIW.. I have not experienced great success with Helleborus that were planted on clay slopes, without modifying the planting area.
Clay, which is composed of extremely fine soil granules that retain moisture, tends to be very acidic. Hellebores prefer a near neutral to slightly alkaline soil (pH 6.5-7).
A clay slope sheds water very rapidly, as the tightly packed soil has a very slow absorption rate. Heavy rainfall tends to runoff and only moistens the clay a few centimeters deep. Hellebores must have a moist, but well drained location for their roots.
For best results, I would suggest creating small terraces for the plants and ammending the soil with compost, leaf mold or pine bark fines, to a depth of 10-12 inches for improved drainage and increased pH. Pea-sized gravel can be included, if necessary, for improving drainage.
Hellebores are not shade plants, only shade tolerant. The more sunlight(morning or dappled preferred) or bright reflected light(high shade) they receive, the better they perform and bloom. In my experience, if located underneath low limbed evergreen trees or shrubs, you will likely have a foliage only plant(no blooms!). I have had to move many volunteer seedlings to encourage flower buds.
As long as the roots are satisfied and the foliage is shielded from hot, direct afternoon sunlight, they will grow and multiply and bloom reliably each winter! They have been one of my favorite plants for more than 20 years and there are hundreds of them(encompassing 11 different species) in my garden, which produce many offspring(seedlings) each year. Being open-pollinated, the seedlings produce mostly unattractive flower colors.
Double flowered hybrids are the rave plants now. To me, some are attractive, some not, in either case, expensive!
Good luck and enjoy!
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