Hellebore. A well-known garden perennial in many parts of the country, hellebore is noted for its charming bowl-shaped open flowers and for its bold, trifoliate leaves. Indeed if the flowers were less impressive the foliage would have merit enough on its own. This evergreen hybrid is a cross between two more common species, H. argutifolius and H. lividus. The rigid dark green leaves have a coarse, toothed appearance and are stained a deep reddish-purple beneath. The flowers of this cross are variable, often appearing peachy-cream though sometimes opening palest green. Plants form a mound to 2 or 3’ tall with an equal spread and perform best in part shade with regular water. Soil must be well-drained, as plants will not tolerate heavy soils, and the gardener must be vigilant against leaf spot disease. Deer resistant. Otherwise a lovely perennial well suited to California gardens. Hardy to 10F. Garden origin.
