Stinking Hellebore


What better way to forget about all this 'winter' dullness than to go looking for a few plants! Yes, even in the harshest of winters (although this isn't one) some species do their thing throughout the season. One of my favourites just happens to have a few sites close to home.

Stinking Hellebore (Helleborus foetidus) is a wild species, occurring on shallow calcareous soils in a snaking band running from the south-east of England, through central southern England and into mid-to-north Wales. It is found widely elsewhere, but most of these come from garden throw-outs and escapes. It is a fecund plant, setting seed and spreading with ease - I have it in my garden and find it springing up all over the place. Its appearance in the garden is a bit of a mystery - we had lived here for quite a few years and not seen it, until one popped up and spread. It is quite possible that this was a wild plant, as it is present only a mile away (on Epsom Downs).

This afternoon I visited Park Downs with the sole aim of visiting a population that is found at the edge of a copse on the upper slopes. 20-30 plants are present (above), and a fine sight they were too, all fresh greens shining out in the gloom. The flowers were not fully out (below, and not to be expected yet), plus there were a few maturing 'seedlings' nearby. The bottom photo was taken this spring to show the open flower that exhibits a wine-red rim.



The light was quickly leaking away from the day, adding even more gloom to the gloom, but seeing the Hellebores had lifted my day. I looked across the open slope and saw that sheep had been introduced into a large enclosure. These were munching away at the sward, helping to turn this chalk downland into even more pristine chalk downland. They, and the conservators, are doing a fine job. Come and visit next summer, when the butterfly population will provide ample spectacle, along with a stunning flora. And this is all within a twenty minute walk from my front door.


Just as I was about to head home I noticed a lone Hellebore, away from the others, on the edge of a small copse. This was a little more advanced than the others, and stood prouder.

Comments

Derek Faulkner said…
Stinking Hellebore not only has a first name to be proud of but a great Latin name - foetidus. Imagine having that as a surname - Mr. Foetidus, I know several people that could justify that name.
14 December 2015 at 20:22
Steve Gale said…
There's always the deed poll Derek!
14 December 2015 at 21:09
Gibster said…
Some lovely looking Phytomyza hellebori mines in there too, I see :)
14 December 2015 at 23:24
Steve Gale said…
Trust you Seth....
15 December 2015 at 02:19
Derek Faulkner said…
Thanks Steve, I've probably made that impression on some people without the need for a name change.
15 December 2015 at 05:27
John said…
Hi Steve, I suspect that this population is a result of someone sowing seed. For about five years there were only a couple of plants by the side of the path but now they are spreading quickly. Nice to have anyway!
18 December 2015 at 17:29
Steve Gale said…
That's interesting John. In my garden they spread like wildfire - I'm forever digging them up, potting them and passing them on to anybody that wants them!
18 December 2015 at 18:23
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