2018 Hellebores

Hellebore FrostKiss ‘Anna’s Red’

As much as we’ve seen Hellebores, commonly known as Lenten Roses, come through the nursery every season, we are still taken aback by their remarkable beauty each time they arrive.  Lenten Roses are exceptional.  They bloom at a difficult time of year with verve and grace, come in an array of shapes and colors, and can easily become an addiction.  This year it’s the varieties that we’ve been able to get in the FrostKiss series that have caught our eye – ‘Anna’s Red,’ ‘Dorothy’s Dawn,’ ‘Molly’s White,’ and ‘Penny’s Pink.’  This series offers large, outward-facing flowers on tall, sturdy stems.  The foliage is an attractive gray-green color that emerges with pale veining, giving it a variegated effect.  They are stunning.  In addition, we’ve got quart sizes of many of the Winter Jewel series plants which means that you can collect a few varieties without breaking the bank.  Get them now while they are available.

Although it’s still too early to plant them out in the yard without having some foliage dieback occurring, you can keep them in their pots and place them, temporarily, in a sheltered location like by the door, or on a porch next to the house.  In another few weeks or so, you can plant it properly in the garden where you like.  Make sure to keep it watered.

by Constance Cleveland, Behnke’s Perennial Buyer