Mediterranean hellebore Helleborus x sternii

I picked up this plant about 20 years ago, a chuck-out

from my late mother’s nursery. It is one of the most

eye catching and easy to grow plants that flowers from around December to March. Apart from the

pinkish/cream/green flowers (they do vary a fair

bit), it has wonderful, glossy, evergreen foliage

with toothed leaves throughout the year. Some say it is not fully hardy, but mine has survived

minus 10C and lower. After flowering, the large stems (which reach a height

of around 35cm), flop onto the ground, so I cut them off

and leave the fresh basal leaves. They seed freely – perhaps this is their only

drawback – but not so invasively. I replant the seedlings in any odd gaps I have. They love sun and free drainage, but also perform

beautifully in part shade.