One of the garden’s hellebores began flowering late in November, a weather-related confusion, I expect, since this one is typically a late winter bloomer. Now, in mid-December, the true flowering season for hellebores has kicked in, so I expect there will be flowers continually into March.

Flowers of hellebores are touted for lasting two months or longer, but this includes an extended period when the flower has lost much of its ornament. Still, flowers are splendid for at least a month, and of course, at a time of the year when little else is flowering.

The earliest hellebores to flower are commonly called Christmas roses (Helleborus niger, above) with later blooming Lenten roses. I mention this, though I will never call hellebores a rose. The white, December flowering hellebores are less vigorous than most, though hybrids (below) that often flower beginning in early January in this garden are much sturdier and more vigorous.

While flower buds of many hellebores will not be evident until late January, a number are showing colorful buds today. Every year, I think this is early, and while on occasion there will be additional flowers before the new year, most often the next flowers will delay until the second week of January or later.

With a snowy winter forecast, what happens to the flowers that are covered by snow? While the snow insulates and protects many plants, the flowers of hellebores progress even while covered, so in the case of many inches of snow the flowers that were starting to open when they were first covered might be past their peak when the snow melts weeks later. That has not been a problem in recent years, and never is it an excuse not to add hellebores to the garden.

The number of hellebores now in the garden is unclear. Many dozens have been planted, but also there are another many dozens of seedlings that have matured and been transplanted around the garden. The ground beneath many hellebores is covered by seedlings that are left undisturbed for a few years until two year plants are either moved, discarded, or potted and shared. I’ve forgotten the names of most of the purchased hellebores, and barely recall which were seedlings or purchases. Who cares, they’re all favorites.