Are you interested in a plant that blooms in winter, has evergreen foliage, requires little care and is disease- and deer-resistant?

Then consider hellebores! They belong to the diverse buttercup family Ranunculaceae. There are many species and cultivated varieties of hellebores, but the most popular and the easiest to grow are Oriental hybrid hellebores (Helleborus x hybridus cvs.) These are also known as Lenten Rose because they bloom around the beginning of Lent.

Until recently, hellebores were relatively unknown outside of plant enthusiast circles. “They used to be hard to find and had a reputation for being finicky, which is a myth,” explains award-winning hellebore hybridizer David Culp.  Hellebores are hardy in Zones 5 – 9 and Culp says they are perfect for mid-Atlantic gardens. “The only things they don’t like are standing water and being planted too deep.”

“You don’t have to worry too much about hellebores,” says Culp. “They require little care and can live up to 15 years or more.” They rapidly self-sow and do not need to be divided. They also like shady areas which is an outstanding characteristic as shade gardens increase in popularity. Perhaps best of all, hellebores are pest-resistant. They contain alkaloid toxins, which act as a poison or purgative.

The hellebores’ blooms are the plant’s most interesting feature. Blooms can last up to three months and can be just about any color. “The only colors we haven’t achieved [through hybridizing] yet are true red or blue,” says Culp, although he thinks that day will come. “All of the hybridizers are trying to attain those colors.”

The color combinations and variations are already seemingly endless. Colors include white, green, pink, apricot and purple; hellebores can also have colored edges, veining, spotting and colored centers. Hellebore experts advise purchasing the plants when they are in bloom in order to know the true color of the bloom.

Culp enjoys playing with the color range of the popular and easy-to-grow Oriental hybrid hellebores. He pairs them with red-twig dogwood or yellow-berried hollies. Other good companion plants include mahonia, false cypress, winterberry, nandina, snowdrops and early narcissus.

According to Culp, the future of hellebores includes new leaf variations. “When you consider the leaf is visible year-round, that’s very important,” he says. “The leaves can be extremely variable in form and color, for instance some varieties have a deep purple-colored leaf.” The beauty of the hellebores’ foliage, combined with their love of shade, add yet another dimension to the garden. “Hellebores are a good reminder to people that there’s life after hostas,” says Culp.

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