Larry Smith and the Riverside Gardens team talk all things pots, plants and pruning in their weekly gardening column.
As the last month of autumn approaches, we need to start thinking about gardening in the coming winter months.
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Here is hoping that the beautiful weather we have been having through autumn continues for a while.
Maybe with a bit of rain thrown into the mix as well, but preferably only at night — if that’s not too much to ask.
Over the past few weeks, the new season hellebores, or winter roses as they are commonly called, have been appearing on our shelves and proving very popular.
We have had both some of the larger-growing recently released hybrids and some stunning lower-growing hybrid varieties as well.
The smaller varieties we have in stock are from the Winter Elegance series, which has been developed by one of Australia’s finest hellebore specialists.
This breeder has rigorously selected the best stock plants and painstakingly hand-pollinated them to achieve these beautiful varieties.
The result is a collection of strong-growing, quality plants in amazing colours, and some with full double flowers.
Some of this range that we have on the shelf include Double Pink, Lemon Zest, Double White, Peach Melba, Double Burgundy, Sparkling Shiraz, Shell Pink, Double White Spotted and Raspberry Ripple.
This range sold out quickly last year and is only available in limited numbers, and although we have ordered follow-up stock, there is no guarantee of supply.
Here are some of my favourites from this range:
Raspberry Ripple is a new addition to the Winter Elegance range. It has a pale off-white background with deep pink veined mosaic patterns on the petals.
Lemon Zest has unique lemon-coloured double flowers with a red edge and bold, glossy, divided foliage.
Double Burgundy is a deep burgundy red tone with bright yellow stamens.
Peach Melba has a background of apricot-peachy tones, with darker pink outer edging on the petals and a light green centre beneath the yellow stamens.
We have several different varieties of the larger-growing hellebores coming through over the next few months.
In stock this week, we have Ice n Roses Red, known for its showy single dark red flowers that, even as they fade, retain their deep red colour.
Angel Glow’s flower buds start off a shade of dark pink and open to a stunning light pink with a lime green centre.
Another is Tutu, which is famed for its semi-double blooms with delicate ruffled centres.
Other larger hybrid varieties coming through in the next few weeks include Molly’s White, Cinnamon Snow, Anna’s Red, Cinderella, Emma’s Dream, Ice Breaker, Ivory Prince, Pink Frost and Sophie’s Delight.
Hellebores provide year-round interest in the garden with their glossy, divided leaves looking lush and almost tropical through the summer months.
They then flush over in masses of colourful, cupped flowers in late winter.
Most varieties will flower from June through to September, with multiple flushes of flowers over that period.
Hellebores requires a semi-shaded to shaded position in reasonably well-draining loamy soil.
They are ideally suited to growing under deciduous trees or lightly canopied evergreen trees.
Their flowers can be picked as cut flowers and hold up well indoors, or just left to add colour to that shady spot in the garden.
Potted hellebores can also be used as a short-term indoor plant while they are in flower and then moved back outside once finished.
Hellebores are effortless to grow and require only a small amount of maintenance. Just a cut back of any old, tired-looking foliage in late winter or early spring as the new growth starts to come up.
A light feed in late September and regular watering during summer will keep your plants looking good.
As winter approaches, so does the bare-rooted season.
This is the time when dormant deciduous trees and roses can be lifted out of the ground and sold as bare-rooted — that is, with no pots or potting mix covering their roots.
Winter is the only time of the year that plants can be sold like this, and that is because they are dormant and not in active growth.
It is a great way to purchase deciduous trees and roses because they are that bit cheaper and will transplant well if treated properly.
Be sure that the plants were dormant when lifted and not in active growth with flowers and foliage still on the plants.
Inspect the plants to ensure they have not been allowed to dry out during the process and that they have been handled correctly.
Because it is a limited season and there is a limit to the quantity available on a lot of the varieties, it is wise to get in early and forward-order the plants you are chasing.
In most cases, bare-rooted plants become available from June onwards.
That’s enough talk about winter.
Let’s make the most of the last month of autumn and enjoy this lovely weather.
Growing For Success