Hellebores are prized for their early spring blooms that provide much needed color in the garden after a long winter. But like any plant, hellebores need proper care and pruning to keep them looking their best. Knowing when to cut hellebores back is key to maximizing their growth and promoting abundant blooms year after year.
Why Pruning Hellebores is Important
Pruning accomplishes several important tasks
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Removes old, damaged foliage that can harbor pests and diseases.
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Makes room for new growth.
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Keeps the plant’s form in check and prevents flopping.
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Promotes blooming by allowing sunlight to reach emerging buds.
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Improves air circulation around the plant.
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Rejuvenates the plant by stimulating new growth.
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Maintains an attractive appearance in the garden.
When to Prune Hellebores
The timing of pruning depends on the type of hellebore:
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Hybrid and deciduous hellebores should be pruned in late winter or early spring once the flowers begin to fade. This allows time for the plants to store energy while avoiding removal of next year’s flower buds.
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Evergreen hellebores should be pruned after flowering finishes in early summer. Pruning too early removes the current year’s flower buds.
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All types can have spent flowers removed as needed throughout spring and summer to keep plants looking fresh.
Pruning late in the season is not recommended because it can stimulate new growth that is susceptible to winter damage.
How to Prune Hellebores
Pruning hellebores is a simple process:
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Use bypass pruners or garden scissors for a clean cut.
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Remove all spent flowers by cutting back to the base of the flower stalk.
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For hybrid and deciduous types, cut back old foliage at the base to make room for new leaves. Remove any damaged or diseased foliage.
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For evergreen types, selectively prune old foliage as needed, leaving healthy leaves intact.
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Place a container over emerging flower buds to avoid accidental damage while pruning.
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Remove dropped leaves and flowers around the base of the plants to improve air circulation.
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Disinfect tools after use to prevent spreading disease.
Additional Care for Pruned Plants
After pruning your hellebores, provide a bit of extra care:
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Water thoroughly if the weather is dry. Pruning stimulates new growth that requires adequate moisture.
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Apply a balanced fertilizer or compost top dressing around pruned plants to fuel regrowth.
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Monitor for pests like aphids that may be attracted to tender new foliage.
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Apply a layer of mulch around hellebores to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and protect roots.
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Stake tall or floppy growths if needed to keep emerging flowers upright.
What to Expect After Pruning Hellebores
Pruning hellebores results in:
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A flush of new foliage that unfurls after old leaves are removed.
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Larger and more abundant blooms with increased sunlight exposure.
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An upright, tidy appearance without tired old foliage.
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Improved vigor as the plant redirects energy to new growth.
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Extended bloom time from late winter into early spring.
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Healthier plants that suffer less disease and pest damage.
When Not to Prune Hellebores
Avoid pruning hellebores at the wrong time of year or incorrectly to prevent damage:
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Do not prune evergreen types in fall or early winter when flower buds are forming.
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Avoid pruning any hellebores late in the growing season, which can encourage tender new growth before winter dormancy.
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Never prune hellebores too severely, which can stress the plant. Remove no more than one-third of foliage at one time.
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Do not leave cut debris around hellebores, which can encourage pests and diseases.
Timely, careful pruning is important for keeping hellebores looking their best. By understanding what type of hellebore you have and when to prune it, you can encourage vigorous growth and maximize its unique early blooms. Annual pruning allows hellebores to put on their best show and thrive season after season.
Pruning Hellebores in Summer
When fresh growth appears, cut back and compost old leaves. During summertime, if your plant needs pruning back, simply trim back some of the stems so you have a nicely pruned plant but try not to disturb it too much.
After your Hellebore has flowered and the flowers are starting to go over, seed pods may develop in the darkened centre of each flower. Now is a good time to consider deadheading them. Leaving the seed pods may produce lower quality flowers so removing them will improve the quality of the remaining plant and refocus its energy into those.
What to do with Hellebores in Summer
Hellebores are a winter interest plant that can grow well into spring. With evergreen, attractive foliage and graceful flowers in the colder months, the sight of Hellebores in the garden is most certainly a cheerful one. Most commonly, Hellebores are available in shades of red, pink, white or yellow/green flowers and are also commonly referred to as the ‘christmas rose’.
Generally, Hellebores don’t need much maintenance but there are things you can do in the summer months to encourage healthy growth. During the summer months, Hellebores go dormant meaning that they stop growing to conserve energy for their next growing season when the right weather for them returns.
As the plants will be dormant, there may not be a need for you to water your plants during the summer, however it’s a good idea to keep up with the pruning despite their main growth occurring in winter and spring. While other care tips can be optional, we’ll run through what you can do with your hellebores in summer to get the best from them when their peak season arrives.
Hellebore Care Guide // Garden Answer
FAQ
Can you cut hellebores down to the ground?
However, Corsican hellebore leaves are easily damaged, and I often make the decision to sacrifice the flowers and cut the plants back to the ground rather than look at their unsightly leaves while they bloom.
When should hellebore leaves be cut back after?
Cut back the large leathery leaves when flowers and new foliage emerge and mulch plants annually with well-rotted compost or manure.Feb 5, 2025
How do you prune hellebores in the summer?
One side says to prune off the old foliage to the very base just as the Hellebore is starting to flower. If that’s you, just keep an eye on things and prune out the old foliage when new leaves start to come out, about two months after bloom starts.
How to keep hellebores blooming?
“Hellebores thrive in well-draining soil, so make sure to amend your soil if it’s heavy or clay-like. Water them regularly, especially during spring and fall when they are actively growing. Summer heat can cause hellebores to go dormant, so they won’t need as much water then.”
When should I prune my hellebores?
Trimming your plants too soon is a common pruning mistake to avoid. While it will depend on where you reside and your climate, I would recommend pruning your early-flowering hellebores somewhere between September and November. In warmer zones, such as US hardiness zone 8, pruning will be done later than in cooler, wetter regions.
When should I cut back hellebores?
Aim to cut back hellebores in late autumn, around November. Focus on removing tattered and diseased foliage first. The other option is cutting hellebores in early spring. Wait until flowers begin emerging, usually February or March. Pruning too early in winter can damage flower buds. Once blooms start opening, cut down unsightly leaves.
How do you cut back hellebores?
When cutting back hellebores, skip using a scissors or flower snips for the job – you won’t have much success with these tools because the stems are stringy inside and sturdier than they look.
When should you cut back Helleborus X hybridus?
This process is explained in more depth underneath. Hellebores should be cut back either in the autumn or in mid-winter, depending on the variety. The easy-to-care-for and widely-grown Helleborus x hybridus, with its nodding flowers that tend to bloom in February and March, requires cutting back in late winter before the new growth appears.
Do hellebores need to be cut off?
Snip old foliage when it loses its vitality. Hellebores, like most other plants, use their green leaves to photosynthesize and gather energy from the sun. Cut them off too early, and you’ll deprive your plants of energy! As summer and autumn fade into winter, thesy slowly die as the plant no longer needs them.
Should I cut off my hellebore leaves in November?
Cutting off the leaves of last year at the end of the season is one of the best things you can do. This stops the hellebore leaf spot disease from spreading to the flowers through the winter on the leaves. Even though November is the best month, you can still do it.