Some gardeners consider Hellebores to be one of the most reliable perennials that you can plant in your garden. Not only that, but their unique blooming time makes them perfect for keeping a garden looking lively when most other plants are done for the season. Hellebores are easy to take care of and bloom in so many different conditions. So, if you’re wanting to plant a flower that is evergreen, blooms in the winter and isn’t hard to keep alive, a Hellebore may be the right choice for you!
Hellebores are great for many different types of gardens. Most do well in the shade, woodsy areas, in cold climates and can be deer/rabbit resistant. Another great thing is that there are so many varieties and colours to choose from. Here at Arts Nursery, we have a huge selection for customers to choose from so that they can find the perfect hellebore! Not only do we have many different colours, but we also carry hybrid Hellebores that have different foliage and shapes than a classic Hellebore.
In addition to being a reliable plant, Hellebores are quite easy to care for and are great for many areas in the garden! Hellebores do well under shaded areas covered by trees, shrubs, or even by your home. It’s ideal to plant them under a deciduous tree or shrub so that you can have the Hellebore bloom in the winter while the other shrub or tree may be bare. It’s perfect because in the summer months the Hellebore will be in the shade and still have lush foliage while allowing the other plants to have their moment to shine!
Hellebores will do well planted directly in a garden, or a container garden as long as they have well-drained soil. Hellebores don’t want to be soaked, but they do like moist rich soil so try not to let them dry out completely. To help your plant further, you should fertilize in the fall months for optimum flowering. Make sure to trim any old, damaged foliage before they bloom so that you can fully enjoy the wonderful flowers this plant produces. Of course, every variety may be a little different so it’s always important to double check the tag before planting. All in all, these easy to care for evergreen plants are a great investment for your garden!
A horticulturist on staff here at Art’s picked three different Hellebores that she thinks would be great for many different people, while they all look very different they can grow and thrive in the same environment!
Lorna's Picks
Ice and Rose
This Hellebore series is a little different than most because it can do well in the sun as well as partial shade. Ice N’ Roses is evergreen so when it isn’t in bloom it keeps its green foliage. This Hellebore blooms from December to April so you get to enjoy its flowers for a long time! The picture above shows the white and pink flower, but this variety comes in dark burgundy and plain white as well.
Winter Jewels ‘Painted’ Doubles
Winter Jewels is a hybrid hellebore created by Marietta O’Byrne, this hellebore does well in partial to full shade and blooms from February to April. Winter Jewels have very showy flowers and vibrant foliage making it great for cut flowers. Similar to the previous Hellebore, it is evergreen which means it will still add to your garden in the summer.
Anna’s Red
This classic Hellebore is produces deep burgundy and red petals, accompanied by bronzy green foliage with bright pink veins! As the plant matures throughout the season, the foliage becomes deeper and the veins turn white which gives this plant interest year-round. Anna’s red is another Hellebore that blooms for a long time, it starts producing in mid-winter and continues into the spring season.