Helleborus

Helleborus orientalis, the Lenten rose, brings nodding, saucer-shaped flowers to shady corners from February to April, when little else is in bloom, and gives early bees a welcome source of nectar. Its glossy, leathery, semi-evergreen leaves make handsome ground cover in dappled shade beneath deciduous trees and shrubs.

A mix of colours: not guaranteed

Our Lenten roses are seed-raised hybrids, so every plant is unique. Flowers range from white and blush pink to deep red and dark plum, often speckled or freckled towards the centre. We can't choose or guarantee the flower colour of any plant. Packs of 3 or 6 are likely to give a mix of shades, but we can't promise different colours. The photos show examples from the range, not the exact plant you'll receive.

What you'll receive

Dormant bare roots, not in flower, ready to plant from autumn to spring. Bare roots can take a season to settle, so flowering may be light in the first spring and improves as the clump establishes.

• Flowers: February to April
• Height and spread: about 45cm when established
• Position: partial to light shade
• Soil: fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained
• Hardiness: fully hardy
• Foliage: semi-evergreen; may lose some leaves in a hard winter

Harmful if eaten and the sap may irritate skin, so wear gloves when handling.

Helleborus argutifolius (Holly-Leaved Hellebore) is part of our winter & early-spring perennials collection.

Helleborus argutifolius, commonly known as Holly-Leaved Hellebore, is supplied as bare roots in flexible pack sizes for individual planting or natural-looking groups.

Browse its linked perennial collection, sunlight and garden-use filters to find compatible planting companions for a more considered border.

A truly charming and beautiful Hellebore, 'Double Ellen Pink' is celebrated for its romantic, fully double flowers that bring a soft flush of colour to the garden at the end of winter. Each large, downward-nodding bloom is packed with layers of ruffled petals in a lovely shade of clear, soft pink. The colour is pure and gentle, without any heavy veining or spotting, giving the plant a very elegant and refined appearance. The flowers are held on strong stems above the handsome, evergreen foliage, creating a beautiful display for many weeks from late winter into spring. This variety is perfect for adding a touch of gentle colour to shady corners, woodland gardens, or containers, where its early blooms can be appreciated up close. It is a reliable and graceful performer that is sure to win hearts.

Helleborus niger (Christmas Rose) is part of our winter & early-spring perennials collection.

Helleborus niger, commonly known as Christmas Rose, is supplied as bare roots in flexible pack sizes for individual planting or natural-looking groups.

Browse its linked perennial collection, sunlight and garden-use filters to find compatible planting companions for a more considered border.

A truly exquisite and much sought-after Lenten Rose, 'Double Ellen Yellow Spotted' is a winter and early spring treasure. It produces beautiful, large, nodding or outward-facing, fully double flowers. The blooms are composed of multiple layers of ruffled petals in a gorgeous shade of creamy, primrose-yellow. Each petal is then delicately and artistically speckled and spotted with a contrasting rich shade of burgundy or deep red, with the spotting often being heaviest towards the centre of the flower. These stunning blooms are held on strong stems above handsome clumps of leathery, divided, deep green, evergreen foliage. They provide a vital source of colour and interest when little else is happening in the garden and are a welcome sight for early-emerging pollinators.

A pristine and elegant member of the acclaimed 'Double Ellen' series, this Hellebore is a beacon of light in the late winter garden. It produces beautiful, large, fully double flowers of the purest, snow-white. Each perfect, cup-shaped bloom is packed with layers of silky petals, creating a magnificent, ruffled, rose-like effect that is simply breathtaking. The flowers nod gracefully on strong, upright stems above a handsome clump of leathery, deep green, evergreen foliage. 'Double Ellen White' is a sophisticated and reliable choice for illuminating a shady border or woodland garden, providing clean, classic colour when little else is in bloom. Like all hellebores, it is a vital early food source for emerging queen bumblebees, making it as valuable for wildlife as it is for its serene beauty.

A truly sophisticated and beautiful Lenten Rose, 'Double Ellen Green' is prized for its unique and elegant flowers. In late winter and early spring, it produces large, exquisite, fully double blooms. The flowers are composed of many layers of ruffled petals in a gorgeous shade of fresh, chartreuse or lime-green. Some flowers may have subtle, deeper green veining or a fine picotee edge of reddish-purple, adding to their complexity and charm. The nodding or outward-facing blooms are held on strong stems above handsome clumps of leathery, evergreen foliage. It brings a cool, refined elegance to the shady garden at a time when colour is scarce and provides a vital nectar source for early-pollinating insects. A must-have for any hellebore enthusiast or woodland garden.

A particularly enchanting and detailed Hellebore, 'Double Ellen Pink Spotted' offers intricate beauty for the late winter garden. Like its siblings in the 'Double Ellen' series, it produces large, gorgeous, fully double flowers that nod gracefully from strong stems. The base colour of the ruffled, layered petals is a soft, creamy pink. Each petal is then exquisitely decorated with a fine freckling of deep, magenta-purple spots, with the spotting often being more concentrated towards the centre of the bloom. This creates a wonderfully detailed and captivating effect. The leathery, dark green foliage is evergreen, providing a handsome backdrop for the flowers and year-round garden presence. This variety is perfect for a special spot in a shady border or a container where its unique, speckled beauty can be admired up close.

Helleborus foetidus (Stinking Hellebore) is part of our winter & early-spring perennials collection.

Helleborus foetidus, commonly known as Stinking Hellebore, is supplied as bare roots in flexible pack sizes for individual planting or natural-looking groups.

Browse its linked perennial collection, sunlight and garden-use filters to find compatible planting companions for a more considered border.