I have about 5 different hellebore and love them all. They are such tough plants and are one of the first to bloom at the end of winter.
These hold the blooms up nicely and produces lots of seeds.

I totally agree! I have about 11 different hellebores, blooming while the REST of the plant world slumbers. They are evergreens, deer resistant and drought resistant (when mature). My Hellebore Josef niger bloomed in mid October
hellebore Ice follies and Hellebore Yellow Ruffles both began blooming the week after Christmas
I have 3 hellebores found in vacant lots: the dark red one has been in bloom for over a week. No blooms yet on the light red or on the "confused" (one flowering stalk sported dark red blooms while the otherhad one white bloom).
I'm waiting with excitement for another four to bloom (2 in mid March): hellebore cinnamon snow, hellebore Painted Doubles, Hellebore Peppermint Ice and Hellebore Penny's Pink.
The 3 new ones (Hellebore Golden Lotus, Hellebore Rose Quartz and another Hellibore Josef Niger)are too new to bloom until next year.

(ps I don't know how to link to a picture in the database. . . Sorry)

I would love to see some landscape type photos of them BetNC. Your growing season is ahead of ours. I do have buds poking up, and look forward to seeing them in full bloom.
I was able to start a bunch of seeds from last year that have wintered over beautifully, and are already look like they are starting into a growing faze. I look forward to the day I see the first blooms on them. No idea what I will get.

@valleylynn you DO realize those babies won't bloom until their second winter??

as for landscape, the original bed I had them in was turned into a full sun bed when Property Management cut down the big oak tree that was supplying the shade; my garden helper hastily built a new shade bed and moved them, so I lost only 4 new "babies". Where they are now still looks so raw and "in progress". . . but you asked! (and I'm proud of what this new bed will look like!)

2014, newly moved


2014, another angle: from Variegated Winter Daphne on the end looking toward the front and along all the hellebores

Thank you so much for the photos.
I will try to get a photo or two of mine, coming out of dormancy. This is such an exciting time of year.

Oh, I forgot to tell you, I did know that it would take 2 or 3 years before the seedlings will bloom.
Have you grown them from seed before?

I bought 2 last summer and was told that the gallon sized plants would bloom this year - I was a little doubtful but they have buds on them! So excited to see what they'll be!!!
These truly are my favorite shade plant! They have such odd looking leaves, for some reason they always remind me of something prehistoric!
Thanks for great pics and stories both of you!
I have to post this, and click "Watch" then I can come back here and post my two 'bud' pics from my phone

I can't wait to see them fully opened Greg. Do you know which one your first photo is?

What a lovely plant these are, especially the newer up-facing varieties. Mine bloom from Feb thru May and then the foliage stays fresh looking well into late fall. Great backbone plant.

I like that hellebores are often the first flowers that peek through the snow. Mine even reseed so I have many more than I started with! Although I don't have 'Winter Jewels' (above), that's the most gorgeous one I've seen so far.

Next month is the Open House and sale at Northwest Garden Nursery. An amazing place to visit, don't forget your camera.
SATURDAYS ONLY THIS YEAR, February 20, 10am-4pm and February 27, 10am-4pm. Also open from March 1 to March 6, 11am-4pm.
http://www.northwestgardennurs...

Hold your cursor over the slide show and it will give you the name of the blooms.

With out a doubt one of my favorite plants, the blooms just last so long. Have around 20 varieties so far and planning on getting more.
Would love to go to Northwest, they have some stunning plants.

LOVE Hellebores

I tried a couple in pots and they did not survive.

Marilyn you might try again in-ground. Lauribob grows them in her zone 4.

This is one of the best shade plants I have. Slugs don't eat it, so hardy here in my zone 7 garden, gorgeous blooms that last well into late spring. What's not to like!!!

Here's a few pictures from 2015. They are just beginning in my garden for 2016. What a show it will be this year.











They don't like deep shade , dappled is best. They grow on the forest floor under deciduous trees.

Mine are mostly planted under deciduous trees. The ones over by the huge fir tree don't bloom as heavily. Maybe it's time to move them.
These photos were taken today:
Black Diamond


Golden Sunrise


Red Lady


Rose Quartz


I can't wait to see them in full bloom. The Golden Sunrise is a very young plant, hopefully it will be more impressive next year. I love that this one has chartreuse colored foliage for much of the growing season.

Love the yellow ones!!!! Golden Sunrise

I have to say, at this time my all time favorite has been the H. 'Kingston Cardinal'. Beautiful color, blooms carried above the foliage, the blooms are huge and last for months.
Sadly I had someone over to do weeding, and while I went to town on an errand the gentleman took the entire plant out thinking it was a weed. By the way, this area was already clear of all weeds and newly mulched. I was heart broken. I really need to find me another 'Kingston Cardinal'.