An unapologetic plant geek shares advice and opinions on gardening, the contrived and the natural landscape, as well as occasional topics from the other side of the gate.

February 15, 2008

Bloom Day - Hellebores

This is my first post for Bloom Day, and I actually had several things I could have posted, but the Hellebores (Helleborus orientalis) are just starting to peak. If you are not growing this perennial , you need to start. They are evergreen, drought tolerant, shade tolerant, disease-insect-deer resistant and for me begin blooming in the longest month of the year when I need them the most.

The above is one of my favorites because of its dark color. Linda, one of the former owners of my company, gave me a few seedlings out of her garden that I put on the north side of my house. They began crossing with each other and with a few I had already and now I have a great collection of colors.

The dark purple from above looks great against the foliage of the O'Spring Holly (Ilex cornuta 'O'Spring')
How about a few freckles.
See what other gardeners are enjoying at Bloom Day.

7 comments:

  1. If that's not a convincing argument for hellebores, I don't know what is.

    What a purple!

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  2. Your Hellebores are stunning - what a wonderful collection you have!

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  3. What a beautiful dark hellebore. We, like you, have very many seedlings, each one different, but no real dark ones. Seeds were purchased this year to try and recitfy that. Thanks for stunning photos.

    Frances at Faire Garden

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  4. I think the dark colors are my favorites too. Hellebores have really gotten a makeover in the last 10 years or so.

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  5. I have on small clump of hellebores - which bloomed their first two years, but haven't bloomed since. My zone (8b) just isn't so great for them - except that I think there might be some that do better than others in our area. I need to look into them - yours are just beautiful (I like that darker one best too).

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  6. Your Hellebores are gorgeous. Take a look at Heronswood Nursery, they have a magnificent selection of Hellebores.

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