Hellebores have become incredibly popular in the past few years due to their unique bloom time and the low maintenance required for this winter-blooming, evergreen perennial.

Hellebores thrive in rich, well-drained soil. They are excellent for bringing color to garden borders, under deciduous trees, or between other shrubs. They can handle full shade locations but perform best if given a few hours of morning sun. Once established, hellebores are very drought tolerant and can be grown with great success in hardiness zones 4-8. Our region falls under the hardiness zone from 6B (colder northern and western suburbs) to 7A (mainly south and east of Washington, D.C.).

This wonderful winter gem starts blooming in late December or early January and can bloom through May and into June. They bloom in a vast array of colors including reds, pinks, whites, greens, purples, and even some grey and black blooms.

The deer tend not to bother these winter bloomers either and they’ll reach a height of 12 -18 inches with a similar spread. Although they are evergreen, it’s a good idea to remove the old, tattered foliage each spring after blooming to allow for new foliage to put on a show.

Check out just a handful of the varieties of hellebores carried by Meadows Farms Nurseries. Please note that sizes and availability may vary by location, so please contact our locations for more information.

VARIETIES

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.