What's not to love about Hellebores? They're evergreen, deer-resistant, shade-loving, early bloomers, and, above all, beautiful! Once this dang snow melts, you're bound to see flowers emerging from this remarkable plant.
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| Pearl-white blooms on dark foliage |
Hellebores are native to Europe and Asia. Though some will reseed, they stay put where they are planted in our area. The one to two-foot plants are popular in woodland gardens. Stems bear cup-shaped flowers in white, purple, pink, and green shades. Plants are poisonous, which is why they are deer-resistant.
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| Mixed varieties add early color to my foundation garden |
In my garden, they thrive in light to heavy shade. The garden soil is well-drained. They have become drought-resistant after several years. Hellebores are hardy in our zone 7 and from USDA zones 3-9.
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| New, tender growth emerging in early March |
Hellebores like cooler temperatures for planting, making spring and fall ideal. Be careful not to bury the crown too deeply and avoid mulching near the crown.
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| Pink -tipped blooms nod in the garden |
As the flowers are soon to emerge, remove any tattered leaves to make room for the new growth. Many of the newer varieties of Hellebores stand up straight, not nodding like many of the varieties in my own garden.
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| Nodding pink flowers on bright green leaves |
Fertilize in fall or early spring with Plant Tone or your favorite organic or slow-release plant food.
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| The forager in me picked early maple leaves, cedar, and bleeding heart to accompany the Hellebores. |
Enjoy these wonderful plants early this season. See our Plantfinder for a look at each of the almost 50 varieties we sell at Valley View Farms in our perennial department.
