Although we think of hellebores as having petals, technically they are sepals, which accounts for their flowers’ longevity. This single hellebore is one of my favourites I’ve seen this year.
Looking inside, the veining is soft. Pink patches on the left and right of each sepal almost form a star shape.
Single hellebores have a ring of tiny, flattened tubes called nectaries around the base of the stamens. In the first flower, they are green.
In the dark purple hellebore the nectaries appear black against the pale green centre.
Nectaries are petals that evolved by shrinking and curling to form tiny containers for nectar to attract pollinators. Natural yeast in the nectar ferments, adding to the allure (don’t think of sampling the nectar: all parts of hellebores are toxic to humans).
In doubles and semi-doubles, this process is gradually reversing, often with human intervention as breeders seek out novelties. The nectaries elongate and turn more petal-like, as in the primrose yellow semi-double hellebore above.
Double hellebores have lost their nectaries completely. But for the tiniest smattering of spots, this one would be pure white.
From above, it’s hard to appreciate the variety in today’s plants as their heads hang downwards, so many gardens float different colours and forms of hellebores in a bowl for visitors to admire. This selection of singles, doubles and semis is from our trip to Wisley last month. It was only later that I noticed that one of the flowers is a camellia. It’s so obvious once you see it.
So beautiful – clever having them floating.
It shows them off so well and it spares the knees!
♥
Beautiful flowers and a nice explanation of the forming of doubles, Susan.
Thanks, Steve. The semi-double illustrates the process well.
Susie, you are AMAZING!!!!
How kind of you to say that, B!
beautiful flowers
I love the process of looking inside them, never knowing what you’ll find.
I am no seamstress and I do not pretend to know about fabric, but that double yellow immediately had me imagining a silky heirloom wedding gown, and the pure white had me thinking of the organdy of an old-time First Communion dress. Your photos are very evocative — I think you and the hellebores share vibes.
Flowers are often better dressed than we are – or perhaps I should make that than I am.
“We” is accurate.
An enchanting flower. And yet poisonous to us. Luckily, not for the bees.
Luckily not. It’s weird how dogs can’t eat chocolate.
Beautiful flowers..and so welcome in winter !
I agree – winter flowers have a special quality.
Thank you Susan for this beautiful photos and for the explanations!!! I learn a lot about flowers and plants reading your posts!!!
My pleasure, Rita.
Lovely!
Thanks, Melinda.
I love your Hellebore posts! The doubles are gorgeous. The white one is like a ballerina’s tutu.
Another Strictly Come Dancing flower, although you’re right, this is more Swan Lake than Salsa. 🙂