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Herbaceous Perennial

Helleborus × hybridus Harvington dusky

hellebore Harvington dusky

A bushy, clump forming semi-evergreen perennial with deeply divided, leathery, dark green leaves up to 45cm high and single, pink speckled, deep purple, pendent or outward facing flowers from late winter to early spring.

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Ranunculaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Semi evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten, skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten, skin irritant. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Helleborus can be rhizomatous, herbaceous or semi-evergreen perennials forming a clump of pedate basal leaves, or evergreen with erect, leafy stems. Large, bowl-shaped flowers are borne in loose clusters in late winter or spring
Name status: Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in neutral to alkaline, moisture retentive, humus–rich soils that are not prone to staying wet or drying out in summer. Improve lighter soil with organic matter such as garden compost or a manure-based soil conditioner prior to planting and mulch well. Plant in light shade with shelter from strong cold winds. Mulch in the autumn to give winter protection. For more advice, see hellebore cultivation.

Propagation

Propagate large clumps by division in early spring or early autumn. Water well until established. Plants propagated by sed may be variable.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

Remove old leaves in mid- to late winter before the flowers start appearing to expose the emerging flowers and control hellebore leaf spot. Deadhead by removing the old faded flower stems.

Pests

May be susceptible to hellebore aphid, slugs and snails.

Diseases

May be susceptible to hellebore black death, hellebore leaf spot, grey moulds (botrytis) and virus diseases.

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