Hellebores - What to look for when choosing hybrids

One of the first plants to start blooming in my garden in late winter and early spring is hellebores. It appears to revive with the first warming rays of the sun. You have to love a plant that can still show off at this time of year.  The flowers can last for months too which is one of its great features.

The most popular and easiest to grow are the Oriental hybrid hellebores. They are long blooming, low-maintenance, basically evergreen perennials that like partial shade to full shade. They remind me of orchids in the vast variety that is offered these days. There is a lot of choice and come in virtually any color you want: white, green, pink, apricot and purple, to name a few.  They have single, double and star shaped flowers.  Short stem ones face outward more. My best advice is to buy them when they are blooming to ensure you are getting what you want. They are starting to appear in nurseries now.