Hellebores are one of the first flowers to bloom in late winter and early spring. They’re such a gift after the gray days of winter!

Freshly harvested hellebores at flourish flower farm

These tough, shade-loving perennials are beautiful in the garden, but they also make a stunning (and, yes, long-lasting!) addition to early season arrangements… if you know how to harvest and condition them properly.

We get a lot of questions about hellebores at Flourish, so we’re sharing our favorite varieties, harvesting techniques, and a few tips for planting your own.

Harvesting Tips for Long-Lasting Hellebores

If you’ve ever harvested hellebores only to have them wilt within hours, you’re not alone. The secret to long-lasting hellebores is proper conditioning.

Here’s what’s worked best for us:

Harvest at the right time. The key to long-lasting hellebores is letting the bloom fully mature. Look for flowers where the stamens have dropped, and seed pods are beginning to form in the center of the flower. Cutting too early leads to floppy stems and a short vase life.
Score the stems. Use a sharp knife to make shallow, vertical cuts at the base of the stem. This will open up the stem and help with water uptake.
Use a boiling water dip. Dip the bottom inch of the stem into boiling water for a few seconds to seal the cut end and help the stem absorb water.
Fully hydrate. Fill your vase or bucket so the water reaches halfway up the stems. Hellebores do well in deep water, which helps to hydrate the stems.
Use a floral preservative. We like to use a product like Quick Dip to give the blooms an extra boost.
Cool them down. Let freshly cut hellebores rest in a flower cooler or fridge for a few hours before arranging.

Our Favorite Hellebore Varieties

Not all hellebores hold up equally well as cut flowers, but these varieties have performed beautifully for us:

Ice N’ Roses Series: Excellent for single flowers with strong stems and a wide range of colors.
Wedding Party Series: Our go-to for gorgeous doubles with incredible texture and variation.

Where to buy:

Walters Gardens (wholesale)
3 Porch Farm (online retail)
Local nurseries (variety and availability can vary)
Trader Joe’s (seasonally, and surprisingly!)

Growing Tips

Hellebores are an incredibly rewarding low-maintenance flower, but you’ll need to give them a few years before harvesting. Here’s what to keep in mind:

When to plant: Fall or early spring is ideal.
Where to plant: They thrive in partial to full shade and prefer rich, well-drained soil.
Patience pays off: Hellebores take about 2–3 years to mature enough for cutting. (Similar to peonies!)
Let them spread: After 3–4 years, hellebores will begin to naturalize and spread, giving you more blooms with each season. For cut flower growers, that’s a huge bonus!

Whether you’re tucking a few stems into early spring arrangements or building out your shade garden, hellebores are a worthy investment.

With the right harvesting techniques and a little patience in the garden, they’ll reward you with elegant, early-spring blooms year after year.