Our unseasonably warm Spring brought the Hellebores into bloom earlier than ever. But the same warm temperatures, unfortunately, shorthened their bloom span. They exploded open and now it's virtually over in just a bit over a week. We did manage to capture most of them since this year every one that I'm growing finally flowered, so I could figure out who's who.
The first three Hellebores are all unnamed varieties of the Royal Heritage strain.



Helleborus orientalis 'Ivory Prince.' This one grows on a slope above a wall so I can actually see and enjoy the flowers while I'm standing up! And it's facing east so it just shines in the early morning light.


Helleborus x hybridus 'Mrs. Betty Ranicar' is listed as fully double — which she is — but with white flowers. This has always bloomed blush pink and seems to get darker as it ages. Is it really Betty or someone trying to imitate her? A pretty flower no matter the name.

Helleborus x hybridus 'Mardi Gras Black.' I'm a sucker for black flowers and this is a stunner: great color, great shape. A real gem.


Helleborus orientalis 'Sympathy,' another single flowered beauty. She'd look lovely consorting with the black Hellebores but, alas, they live on opposite sides of the garden.

Helleborus x hybridus 'Kingston Cardinal' is a Dan Hinkley selection. Layers of petals make her a bit top-heavy, especially after a rainfall, which is when we took this photo.

I have a whole list of other Hellebores I'm lusting after. The good news is that I have two locations where we will be creating new gardens and they are both slopes. So I can plant the new varieties where I will be able to see the flowers! And when they're done blooming, I'll have the sturdy green groundcover I want for most of the season.