November Plant of the Month - Hellebores: Colour Through the Colder Months

Bring flowers to your garden when you need them most with Hellebores, our November Plant of the Month. From soft whites and blush pinks to rich burgundy and beautifully patterned blooms, there is plenty to discover in our HGC, Frostkiss and ViV ranges.

These rewarding perennials bring colour to borders, woodland gardens and seasonal containers through the colder months. Many also have attractive evergreen foliage, giving them a place in the garden long after their flowers have faded.

Different varieties flower at different times, so mixing early and later selections can give you a succession of colour from autumn into spring. Here is a closer look at what makes each range special.

HGC - Impressive flowers and dependable garden performance

HGC stands for Helleborus Gold Collection, a range that includes Christmas Roses, Snow Roses and Lenten Roses. Selected for their flowering and garden performance, these plants offer plenty of choice for winter borders and containers.

Many HGC hybrids carry large, outward-facing flowers above the foliage, making the blooms easy to appreciate beside a path or doorway. The Ice N’ Roses varieties are particularly vigorous, with a long flowering season and greater tolerance of sunny positions, provided the soil retains moisture.

• HGC Winter Ballet 'Frilly Ruby' - Upright, double flowers in rich red, with flowering beginning from November and continuing into spring.
• HGC Ice N’ Roses 'Ivory Blush' - Elegant ivory-white blooms that develop a soft pink flush as they mature, bringing gentle colour through winter and spring.

Frostkiss - Beautiful foliage as well as flowers

Frostkiss Hellebores offer two layers of interest: striking marbled leaves and bold flowers. The silver-patterned foliage helps brighten shaded planting and remains attractive beyond the flowering season.

Their outward-facing blooms are another attraction, while their generally later flowering helps extend the display into late winter and spring. Plant them now to enjoy the foliage while looking forward to the flowers that follow.

• Frostkiss 'Anna's Red' - Deep burgundy-red flowers on strong red stems above beautifully marbled foliage.
• Frostkiss 'Glenda's Gloss' - White flowers edged in magenta, creating a delicate contrast with patterned leaves and dark red stems.

ViV - Colourful choices and a long season of interest

The ViV collection is all about choice, with single, anemone-centred and double flowers across a wide range of colours and markings. It includes early-flowering selections as well as varieties that bring colour later in winter and spring.

This variety makes ViV a lovely range for putting together your own winter display, whether you prefer soft, understated shades or fuller, more colourful flowers. Check individual flowering times to choose a combination that suits your garden.

• ViV 'Viviana' - Cream flowers with a distinctive lime-green bar, flowering from November to January above glossy dark green foliage.
• ViV 'Vera' - Beautiful double pink flowers, ideal for adding a softer, fuller flower shape to borders and seasonal pots.

Planting Hellebores for a lasting display

Autumn through to spring is a good time to plant, provided the ground is neither frozen nor waterlogged.

• Choose light shade. A position beneath deciduous shrubs or trees offers winter light and shelter from strong summer sunshine.
• Prepare the soil. Mix in well-rotted garden compost to create fertile soil that retains moisture while draining freely.
• Plant at the original depth. Keep the top of the rootball level with the surrounding soil and avoid burying the crown.
• Water well. Keep newly planted Hellebores watered during dry spells while they establish.
• Add a mulch. Apply garden compost around plants annually, leaving a gap around the crown.
• Give pots good drainage. Use a free-draining, peat-free, loam-based compost and a container with drainage holes. Check watering regularly and move pots into shade in summer.

A little care goes a long way

Remove damaged or diseased leaves when needed, keeping healthy foliage, particularly the decorative marbled leaves of Frostkiss varieties. Once settled, Hellebores are best left undisturbed so their clumps can develop.

Combine them with ferns, Heucheras and spring bulbs for a display with contrasting foliage and flowers. Position a favourite near a path or entrance where you can enjoy its changing colours up close.

Visit Cowell’s Garden Centre in Woolsington, Newcastle, to explore our Hellebores and ask our team for help choosing the right varieties for your garden.