Heavenly hellebores

Karen Murphy recommends these hardy beauties to see us through the winter

Hellebores have exquisite flowers and striking leaves that add structure to borders all year round. They are extra hardy, reliable and fans of shade. Their nodding habit is one of their greatest and most famous charms. Among the ones to try are Lenten roses, the most commonly available form, which come in a staggering array of large, showy double or singleflowered forms.

‘Red Lady’

Vibrant claret petals and deep green tongue-like leaves sit under dish-shaped single petals from early to late spring. Grown as part of an early spring woodland planting scheme with clusters of bulbs, it makes a brightly coloured ground cover and spreads nicely.

‘Harvington Double Lime Green’

Green flowers are unusual at the best of times, but these have four frilly layers of large, sweetly nodding lime-green petals in a lighter shade than its leaves. Would look stunning coupled with other vibrant red or pink hellebores.

‘Black Swan’

A beautiful new hellebore, exclusive to Thompson and Morgan. Bred to have its head facing upward, so you can see its pure white stamens and pointed doubleblack, velvety petals. Flowers from February, right through to April in dappled shade.

‘Harvington Picotee’

Wine-coloured picotee edges seem to bleed into the rest of the white single bloom like veins, giving it a pink tinge. Each flower differs, some with heavier veining, others with a light pink touch. Flowers from February to April.

‘Harvington Pink Speckled’

Pink hellebores are quite common, but this particular one has a few more unusual features; it has pointed and butterfly-like petals with a fine smattering of burgundy speckles. It’s one of the prettier, more dainty

hellebores available.