There’s not much out in the garden yet to pair with these delightful hellebore flowers. They are much too sophisticated to hang out with daffodils. Their exquisite beauty works singularly, en masse, luckily.

This frilly double white below is graceful with just a few blooms. After this photo, I snipped them to about 7-inches  long and brought them in a tiny vase to Kendra. She was visibly taken by their beauty. But , of course, who wouldn’t be smitten?

Growing Hellebores

Hellebores, Hellebores, are shade-loving perennials that are hardy, deer resistant (yeah!), remain evergreen, bloom in very, very early Spring, and are one of the most intriguing flowers. Purchase them in bloom, for the colors vary considerably. Some are a quite murky and dismal greenish-purple. The newer varieties range from raspberry to almost black.

Plant hellebores in rich, well-drained soil under dappled shade. Mulch to retain moisture during hot summer months. Plants vary in size by variety, ranging from 18-inches to 3-feet in width and 1 to 4-feet in height.

Feed in spring with a sprinkling of dried blood and bonemeal. Prune any dead or damaged leaves. Deadhead (remove faded flowers – not follow the Grateful Dead from concert to concert) after flowering.

Propagate by division in late spring or early autumn.

They are beautiful as a bridal bouquet at a time when there’s nothing out in the garden. Add some twigs for an architectural statement.

These earliest of Spring flowers have flowers that droop, facing down. Solution: snip off the blossoms. Float in a clear bowl to allow as much light to filter through the petals.

-Sheila