By Jeff Oster, UC Butte County Master Gardener, September 29, 2017

It's not uncommon for a garden to seem a bit bare from late fall through early spring, when very little is in bloom. Luckily, hardy cyclamen and hellebores can help fill this gap by providing color from flowers while adding interest from leaf shapes and patterns as well.

Hardy Cyclamen

Cyclamen hederifolium and Cyclamen coum are smalller, garden-adapted relatives of the florist's cyclamen (C. persicum). They are both native to Mediterranean regions, and are the easiest species of cyclamen to grow in the home garden. Both species are hardy to USDA Zone 5 and do best in well-drained soil rich in humus, and located in areas of dappled (not heavy) shade among trees and shrubs. They are moderately drought-tolerant, very long-lived, and thrive with very little care.

To grow cyclamen, plant tubers in early fall, about one inch deep, and six inches apart. Low mounds are their ideal habitat. The tubers do not multiply, but plants will self-sow, forming colonies. In summer the plants go dormant and need a little moisture to keep roots from dying back. Watering in late summer and early fall breaks dormancy and encourages new growth.

Cyclamen hederifolium is the hardiest, most robust and easiest species to grow. It self seeds and will naturalize. It is tolerant of all average garden soils, and can also grow in areas with more sun. Deep to light pink fragrant blossoms on stems 4 to 6 inches in height appear from late August through November, just before leaves develop. In cultivation, white blossoms develop on some plants. As flowers fade and seeds form, the spent stems spiral earthward and indicate the origin of their name, as cycla is the Greek word for circle.

Foliage lasts until late spring and in a colony creates an almost evergreen ground cover. Leaf shapes vary from heart-shaped to spear-like. Leaves may be marbled green with a symmetrical darker green or silver fractal pattern. The tubers are long-lived, can grow to the size of a small dinner plate, and should produce a profusion of blooms.

Cyclamen coum produces leaves in October followed by flowers from January to March. In habit and reproduction it resembles C. hederifolium. C. coum can be crowded out by C. hederifolium, so it is best not to plant them near one another.

Watch for pests: root weevil, aphids, slugs, snails, mice and squirrels can do occasional damage to cyclamen.

Hellebores

The most common hellebores (Lenten roses) are the Oriental hybrids (Helleborus x hybridus). They are long-blooming (starting in February), low-maintenance, evergreen perennials which originated in Mediterranean regions.

Leaves rise from underground stems (rhizomes), and form clumps that can reach two feet wide by one foot high. Flowering stalks are 12-18 inches high; a single hellebore clump may bear as many as 50 flowers. Although they will tolerate dry shade and sun, partial shade is best. Do not locate in wet spots or alkaline (high pH) soils. Plant them with their crowns just covered by soil. They appreciate organic matter. Remove dying foliage in January before buds emerge. Plant growth slows during the summer.

Helleborus niger is called the Christmas rose, and blooms earlier—late December or early January.

Hellebore colors range from white to purple, with many color patterns on the petals (which are actually bracts or calyxes). White flowers tend to turn green with age, while the purples hold their colors. Flowers may persist for 3 months.

Hellebores rapidly self-sow. Seedlings are not true to parental type, but can be transplanted to rapidly populate a garden. If you buy a variety of plants, their seedlings will produce a spectrum of flowers to choose from. Plants will flower in one to three years. Although division isn't necessary, it is the best method to ensure an exact duplicate of a particular plant. Ideally, divide in fall or winter, although it is also possible to divide around flowering time. Clumps can be lifted, divided and reset by pulling the crowns apart, or divided while in the ground using a sharp knife or shovel. Avoid dividing into small single divisions, because they will rarely survive.

Hellebores contain alkaloid toxins and have been used both as a poison and a purgative. They are pest-free and deer resistant.

For a long span of color from winter through spring, plant hellebores along with daffodils and hardy cyclamen.

For more information on cyclamen and hellebores, see:

Cyclamen Species for the Garden

Hellebores

Plant Hellebores for Winter and Spring Color