Hellebores Galore!by Judy Alleruzzo
Late winter when many other plants are going dormant,
the hellebore (Helleborus or Lenten Rose) blooms. Its
dramatic evergreen foliage and beautiful cup-shape bloom make it one of
the most perfect plants. In a woodland or shady landscape hellebores
can appear to bloom straight up from the ground. In containers their
detailed delicate blooms can be enjoyed up close, while their foliage adds
unique structure for dramatic designs. I love to clip the individual
blooms and bring them indoors during our dreary days. You can lay
them face up in a dish of water to make a floating
centerpiece.
Recently, hellebore hybridists have expanded our
options, creating hellebores in an endless spectrum of colors, petal
counts and leaf
 structure. Coveted by collectors, just like roses, new releases are
added to shade gardens like trophies in a stadium. Yet, unlike roses,
deer do not dine on these tender blooms. This year, Al’s Perennial Growing team has grown
25 varieties of hellebores. One of our exciting new varieties is
the ‘Regal Ruffles’ mix. It was bred locally in Eugene,
Oregon by Ernie and Marietta O’Byrne of Northwest Garden
Nursery. It took the O’Byrne’s 15 years to develop the
‘Regal Ruffles’ mix before it was ready for the
 public. When you see the spectacular mix of flowers ranging from
ivory to blue with large double petals, you believe it was worth the
wait. ‘Tutu’, a fun name and to match a fun
frilly bloom is also new this year. ‘Tutu’ has semi-pink
flowers with delicate pink speckles.
For some gardeners it’s not about the bloom, but
the about color and shape of the foliage.
 ‘Wester Flisk’ is a bear’s foot
hellebore with finely cut, green foliage and reddish-green leaf
stems. The red stems of ‘Wester Flisk’ really stand out
in the winter and its creamy green flower clusters create a dramatic
contrast.
  Fantastic in foliage and bloom is the new, ‘Winter
Moonbeam’. This hellebore offers a creamy white flower that
matures into a dusty mauve surrounded by green foliage marbled with
silvery veins. So many lovely choices to bring a little bit of beauty
to our gray winters, and lots of style for our containers and shady
landscapes the rest of the year.
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