Growing Hellebores: Tips at a Glance
Hellebore flowers, with more than 20 species—evergreen or herbaceous—brighten a late winter garden and will come back next year too.
- Type Flowering perennial
- Lifespan 2+ years
- USDA Zones 5-9
- Light Dappled shade
- Water Moist soil
- When to Plant Early spring
- Design Tip Trim coarse foliage
- Companions Snowdrop, daffodil
- Peak Season Late winter
Hellebore: A Field Guide
The elegance of Hellebore is head and shoulders above any other winter flower. Just as the season is getting tedious, hellebores emerge to quietly remind us of wonderful things ahead.
With more than 20 species—either evergreen or herbaceous—Helleborus suits a relaxed garden but also can stand at attention under a line of pleached limes. F. niger is known as the Christmas rose, and F. foetidus has a scent that earned it the nickname stinking hellebore. Most gardeners gravitate to H. orientalis because its range of colors, both subtle and dramatic, is almost unbelievable. Hybrids range from near-black to pale apple green and yellow, with freckles and stripes in between.