Hellebores are perhaps the showiest of the late winter blooms and a sure sign that spring is on the way.
Hellebores are tough, long-lived evergreen perennials that work wonderfully as a foundational planting under deciduous shrubs and trees. They are also happy out on their own in cooler or north-facing borders. The dark, glossy green foliage – which can be removed in late winter to show off the flowers if you have the time and inclination – are effective as a ground cover and an excellent companion for the blues of Pulmonaria, yellow winter aconites (Eranthis hyemalis), and purple of Cyclamen early in the year.
They come in a wide variety of flower forms and colours, some of which are highly prized among aficionados. They are popular with pollinators and will happily cross and produce seedlings, although these will often look different to the parents.
Flowering in winter is a risky business, but Hellebores are up to the task. You may see them flop dramatically in freezing weather as if all is lost, but this is a coping mechanism and plants bounce right back with the thaw.
There are few plants as dramatic as Hellebores and even less in February, and they certainly deserve their place in the winter garden.

Helleborus SP Anja Oudolf

Helleborus VIV Louisa

Helleborus Maeva

Helleborus niger Praecox

Helleborus Blue Metallic Lady

Helleborus Ice N ́ Roses Red

Helleborus Apricot

Helleborus orientalis mixed colors