Helleborus x hybridus 'Red Hybrids'

A magnificent plant for bringing rich, dramatic colour to the winter garden, this Lenten rose provides a welcome burst of life when most of the garden is asleep.

From late winter into spring, the sturdy, outward-facing stems carry large, nodding, saucer-shaped flowers in a sophisticated spectrum of tones, ranging from deep plum-red to velvety crimson, each beautifully accented by a prominent central cluster of fluffy, cream-coloured stamens. These long-lasting blooms are held elegantly above a substantial mound of tough, leathery, dark green leaves.

It's perfect for underplanting deciduous trees, brightening a woodland border, or creating a seasonal display in a patio container. It is a remarkably hardy and long-lived perennial that thrives in partial to full shade, proving highly resistant to both frost and heavy rain.

Barnsdale tip: To ensure you get the absolute best view of those beautiful nodding flowers, use a sharp pair of secateurs to cut away all of the old, tattered winter foliage down to the ground in January, just as the new flower buds begin to emerge from the crown. This not only showcases the blooms perfectly but also helps prevent the spread of hellebore black spot.

January-April flowering. Evergreen perennial. Best in semi-shade and a reasonably well-drained soil. Height & spread: 45cm x 45cm (18" x 18").