It's hellebore season and we are hosting our 9th Annual A Fascination For Hellebores Winter Festival on February 28 - March 1. Our Propagation House will be full of wonderful varieties in bloom! Be sure not to miss the class, A Glorious Profusion of Hellebores, presented by Katie Miller of Skagit Gardens Wholesale.

Hellebores are deer resistant, make outstanding ground covers and can take dry shade! Use them as long-lasting cut flowers in flower arrangements and plant them in winter patio containers. They range in size from 12" up to 3 feet depending on the variety. The newer garden varieties have been hybridized to have longer bloom times, more color variations and a better habit. When the new foliage and flower buds start to appear, prune off the old foliage for a better display.

Here are just a few of the many hybrid varieties of Hellebores:

This outstanding series brings new life to a large variety of winter and early spring-blooming Hellebores. Flowering their first year, they are long blooming, with lots of buds and blossoms. But the best feature of these varieties are the large flowers that are forward facing! Most grow to 15 inches tall and wide and are evergreen.

H. x hyrbdus 'Snow Dance': Dusty rose buds open to cream flowers, aging to rosy cinnamon. Dark green leaves with red stems. Vigorous and heavy blooming. Grows to 15 inches tall and 24 inches wide.

H. x ballardiae 'Cinnamon Snow': Large, creamy white flowers are blended with rose and cinnamon. The pink buds and petal reverse contain cinnamon red accents. The handsome, dark green leaves have serrated edges.

H. x ballardiae 'Maestro': The dusky rose buds open to cream flowers flushed with rose, aging to rose pink. The deep green leaves have light veins and red stems. This is a very compact variety with blossoms that are held above the foliage, giving a lovely show. Maestro grows slightly bigger - 16 inches tall and wide.

H. x ballardiae 'Mahogany Snow': Large, creamy white flowers with a light pink reverse, aging to mahogany pink on reddish stems. This is a strong performer that is compact and uniform.

H. x ballardiae 'Merlin': This striking, unusual variety has light to medium pink flowers that age to a very dark burgundy. The deep green foliage has lighter veins and plum-colored stems. This variety blooms later than others in this series - late winter to early spring.

H. x ballardiae 'Pink Frost': Burgundy and white buds open to soft pink shades, maturing to deep burgundy. The color range is stunning as fresh blooms appear. Serrated, rich green leaves have red stems and veins with a silvery sheen marbled across the top. An award winning favorite!

H. x ericsmithii 'Champion': Rosy buds open to large, creamy white blooms aging to dark pink. The shiny, dark green leaves are large and lance shaped. This compact variety grows to 12 inches tall and wide.

H. x ericsmithii 'Monte Cristo': Creamy, white blossoms blushed peachy pink are held just above the foliage for an outstanding show of heavy blooms! The blue-gray, lance-shaped leaves have red stems. A compact variety growing to 11 inches tall and wide that is well proportioned.

H. x ericsmithii 'Shooting Star': Dusty rose buds open to white blossoms that fade to sage green. A prolifically blooming variety; the flowers rise up from the center in a bouquet formation. The deep green leaves have prominent veins and dark red stems. A larger habit that grows upwards of 22 inches tall and wide.

H. 'Love Bug': Love Bug is a compact variety with rose colored buds and stems. The flowers open to cream with a rose blush. Blue-gray foliage form a dense mound that is 12 inches tall and wide.

H. niger 'Jacob': Burgundy stems support pure white flowers that turn a pink blush in cooler weather. The prolific and slightly fragrant blossoms are supported by strong stems and are long lasting. Glossy, deep green leaves are toothed and have dark stems. The compact habit grows to 12 inches tall and wide. Jacob blooms very early making it a true Christmas Rose.

H. 'Platinum Rose': Bright rose buds open to creamy flowers that fade to dark rose. Large, blue gray leaves and red stems. Grows to 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide.

'Snow Dance'	'Cinnamon Snow'	'Maestro'	'Mahogany Snow'
'Merlin'	'Pink Frost'	'Champion'	'Monte Cristo'
'Shooting Star'	'Love Bug'	'Jacob'	'Platinum Rose'