Hellebore Heaven

These humble woodland plants have been improved enormously by breeders in recent years; their shy, downward facing flowers are getting bigger and they’re being made to turn their faces up to towards us.  There are even some double flowered forms now, with flouncy, peony-like blooms, but I rather like the fact that you have to get down to ground level to appreciate them.  The simpler species forms also contain more pollen and nectar than the hybrids, providing a very useful food source for early Bumble bees.

Look for Helleborus orientalis cultivars for flowers in shades from darkest burgundy through to purest white.  More unusual but just as reliable are the lime green flowered Helleborous argutifolius and Helleborus foetidus, or stinking hellebore (don’t let the name put you off). They are striking additions to the border and have architectural evergreen leaves that give some interest through the rest of the year.  The leaves of Hellebores should be removed just as growth starts again as last year’s leaves are tatty, prone to disease and can hide emerging flowers.  Hellebores are good and hardy, often flowering where not much else will and are a great asset in the garden at this time of the year.