One of my all-time favorite plants blooms outside in the late winter. This tough little plant offers the most stunning pinks, reds, whites, dark blues and purples flowers imaginable. A cousin to the buttercup , the hellebore's flowers are larger and bloom for several months. Also called the Christmas Rose and the Lenten Rose, the hellebore is a welcome sight against the snow and ice backdrop of a winter garden. Most are Zone 5 hardy, which means that we can easily grow them in central Iowa.
My ritual each winter morning is to jump from bed and peek outside my bedroom window to see if my hellebore plants are blooming yet. I delight in seeing their year-long evergreen leaves waving hello to me each morning. Unlike their gardener person peering out of the window, my hellebore are happiest in the cold and snow. My hellebores make me happy. These jewels help me to remember that winter is almost over.
If you have not grown a hellebore, I would encourage you to give it a try. This is an easy-care perennial plant. You will be able to plant them in the spring or the fall to take full advantage of their beautiful evergreen foliage next winter when the ground is snow covered.
Want to learn more about about these stunning winter jewels? Attend my presentation tomorrow morning, February 1st, at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden as I share the magic of Hellebores: Winter's Treasures.
Happy gardening!
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