Oriental Hellebore ViV Victoria

A compact, long-flowering oriental hellebore for the winter garden, Helleborus x hybridus ViV Victoria is a small, clump-forming evergreen to semi-evergreen perennial with leathery, deep green, deeply divided, toothed leaves, brighter than those of most oriental hellebores. From midwinter (sometimes earlier) to April, nodding, maroon to deep reddish-purple, single flowers with creamy stamens are carried, and should be dead-headed as they go over to prolong flowering. Remove any scruffy leaves in winter before flowering begins, and cut back flowering stems after flowering is over. Oriental hellebore ViV Victoria is small enough for a container but is also good at the front of a bed or border.

ViV hellebores are particularly suitable for growing in pots. 

The ViV® Hellebore is a garden/patio plant and – even if it is very cold – it likes to be outside.  A Hellebore has an ingenious system to protect itself against frost: if it starts to freeze, the plant temporarily pumps the moisture from the flowers to its leaves and roots. This causes the flowers to lie completely flat.  As soon as the temperature rises back above 0°C, the moisture is pumped back into the flowers and your Hellebore will look radiant again!

The ViV® Hellebore prefers a slightly shady spot, under high deciduous trees or shrubs.

A ViV® Hellebore that is pot grown during winter must be watered at least once a week in dry weather. 

The ViV® Hellebore usually loses some of its leaves when the bud grows. This happens around October/November. A few leaves will become brown; they can be cut off.

Description above is from the ViV Hellebore, plant breeders website: https://vivhelleborus.com/en/our-helleborus-viv-collection

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Humus-rich, moist but well-drained, alkaline to neutral soil
Position: Best in partial shade; tolerates full shade
Season of interest: All year, winter to mid-spring in particular
Hardiness: Very hardy
Height: 16” (40cm) Spread: 16” (40cm)