Hellebores

The elegant white Christmas rose makes a sophisticated partner for silver-grey foliage, red berries and chic miniature conifers

Few plants beat Helleborus niger for elegant winter flowers. Blooming earlier than their spring cousins, ‘black’ hellebores flower on robust stems from Christmas time into February. This stunning white flower gets the niger part of its name from its black roots: these were used as a purgative in ancient times, and can be deadly if ingested. Handle plants with gloves to avoid skin irritation, too. Flowers are open and relatively flat with a bright yellow central boss of stamens that makes them excellent partners for yellow winter aconites, Eranthis hyemalis (Jan-Feb), narcissus ‘Rijnveld’s Early Sensation’ (Dec-Feb) and witch hazels Hamamelis mollis and H. intermedia (Dec-Feb). Their leathery, palmate foliage makes fabulous groundcover too; it’s an ideal evergreen for a shady spot under trees. In late spring and summer it’s a good foil for shade-loving foxgloves, and a shapely contrast for ferns. Its other common name – the Christmas rose – was applied in the days when Europe used the Julian calendar and Christmas fell on 6 January. When the current Gregorian calendar was adopted in 1752, alas this hellebore’s flowers didn’t bloom any earlier, but you can still enjoy them on 12th night! These demure woodland plants prefer part shade and a moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil. Give a mulch of well-rotted compost to improve soil in autumn and top-dress with a general fertiliser in spring. Once the flowers emerge, you can cut back old leaves to reveal the downcast blooms. This will also reduce the risk of hellebore leaf spot too. H and S45cm (18in)

Flowers are open and flat with a bright yellow central boss of stamens