Heavenly hellebores

Although we're still in the latter grips of winter, more flowers are emerging on a weekly basis and hellebores are joining the party. Although there are a vast array of colours to choose from, the hybridisers are still finding new colours with longer lasting flowers, stronger stems and even leaf colour becoming an added feature.

A recent addition at Suburban HQ is Helleborus (Rodney Davey Marbled Group) 'Penny's Pink' - named after the garden writer and designer Penelope Hobhouse.  This is an evergreen interspecies with dusky pink flowers accompanied by flushed pink marbling on its newly emerging leaves in spring. It's only been in position for a couple of weeks so it's far too early to provide a full assessment - only tell will tell.

As a woodland plant, it's best placed beneath deciduous trees and shrubs where it offers a welcome splash of colour to a shady corner of your garden. Peppered with snowdrops and cyclamen coum, an area of ground can easily be transformed into a rich tapestry of winter colour.

Soil preparation is key and shouldn't be flippantly ignored. They like a rich soil, so incorporate plenty of leaf mould into the hole. If this isn't available, garden compost is an alternative option. A sprinkling of bonemeal also ensures you've given it the best start in life.

When you want to get up close, an easy way is to carefully snip off some flower heads and place in a bowl of water. This can then be placed inside on your dining room table or, positioned in a quiet tranquil corner of your garden.

It should be noted that all parts of the plant are toxic so handle with care.