Hellebores have gained popularity in recent years, thanks to their unique winter bloom time and minimal care requirements. These evergreen perennials bring color to the garden when many others are dormant, making them a winter must-have.

How to care for Hellebores:

Hellebores thrive in rich, well-drained soil and are perfect for brightening garden borders, planting under deciduous trees, or filling in spaces between shrubs. While they can tolerate full shade, they perform best with a few hours of morning sunlight. Though they remain evergreen, it’s a good idea to trim back the tattered old foliage each spring to make room for fresh foliage to put on a show.

Once established, hellebores are highly drought-tolerant and grow well in hardiness zones 4-8. Locally, our area spans hardiness zones 6B, typically found in the cooler northern and western parts, and 7A, which covers the warmer southern and eastern areas closer to Washington, D.C.

As a bonus, the deer tend not to bother these winter bloomers either!

When do Hellebores bloom?

These beauties start blooming in late December or early January and can continue to flower through May and June. Their blooms come in a stunning variety of colors, including reds, pinks, whites, greens, purples, and even unique grey and black hues.

Hellebore Varieties Available at Meadows Farms

Remember, the hellebores listed below are just a selection of the varieties that Meadows Farms carries. Please call your local Meadows Farms for other varieties or special requests.

CHAMPION

Offers the same upward and forward facing flowers, leathery disease resistant evergreen leaves and loads of buds and blooms in winter and early spring. Champion’s rosy buds open to large creamy white blooms that mature a dark pink.

IVORY PRINCE

Large dangling buttercup-type flowers of ivory streaked with rose and chartreuse emerge in late winter and spring, one of the first flowers to come up in cool weather and what a beautiful harbinger they are; great in woodland gardens and on shaded slopes.

MERLIN

Beautiful pink flowers with cream rays and chartreuse centers mature to a deep cranberry; handsome gray-green foliage has interesting cream veins, and deep red stems; this very showy plant is excellent for borders where protected from winter winds.

MOLLY’S WHITE

Offers the same uniform size and habit in a white blossom version. Late to bloom for a Hellebore, February through April, with forward facing flowers, ‘Molly’s White’ makes a showy addition to the Spring garden.

PENNY’S PINK

Attractive even when not in bloom. Unique foliage in the spring where the new growth has some silver marbling. Purple buds open to mauve pink flowers from late winter to mid-spring. Great plant for naturalizing a woodland garden.

PINK FROST

Deep pink-red buds open to display pretty pink-blushed flowers with pale yellow centers; handsome silvery-green foliage; this very showy plant is excellent for borders where protected from winter winds.