Hellebores

Reviews / Votes

Very much in vogue the last few years, hellebores bring colour to the garden during the winter months when not much else is either left or started into growth. Particularily popular are the deep purples of the Helleborus hybridus, sought and fought over whenever appearing for sale. Award-winning garden writer, Graham Rice, shares his expertise on their cultivation, propagation and choice to give the grower the best possible information on their care. Their foliage comes in a multitude of hues and forms from the lime green of the native Helleborus foetidus and Helleborus viridis to the pretty silver and pink-leaved Helleborus lividus from Majorca and the celery-like foliage of Helleborus vesicarus from Syria. Flower colours range from green, white, yellow, pink and purple to mixes and spots. The recent surge in hybridization has produced shades of every hue making them amenable to any colour scheme in the border. Their evergreen foliage provides a background for the spring and summer stars, coming into their own once these transient divas disappear below the surface. Rimed with hoar frost and laden with blooms, they bring a cheer and a lift to the spirits on a crisp winter's morning. Part of the RHS Wisley handbook series, this is a comprehensive and concise look at Hellebores, fully illustrated and clearly written. Aimed at both the amateur and professional grower, this is an invaluable addition to any serious horticulturalists bookshelf. - Lucy Watson