Few plants flower deep into the Winter but one genus has been long been popular with gardeners for just this trait. Hellebores, sometimes referred to as the Lenten or Christmas rose, though they have absolutely no relationship to roses, and are actually members of the Ranunculaceae family.

All like fertile, moist but well drained soil and dappled shade. Some can cope with higher light levels as long as they are not allowed to dry out and the native Helleborus foetidus prefers deep shade. None of them enjoy being waterlogged so if your soil is heavy you will need to improve the drainage.

Helleborus niger absolutely loathes sitting in wet and cold conditions and can be lost if the drainage is not adequate.

All Hellebores are toxic though poisoning is rare. Animals won’t eat them as the toxic compounds in them are bitter to taste. Gardeners with sensitive skin should wear gloves when handling them or collecting seeds as they have been known to cause dermatitis.

However, the fact that they flower so early means they are a welcome source of pollen and nectar to our early pollinators.

The flowers can be single or double and nod so placing them up higher, on a terrace or raised bed for instance will make looking into the flowers much more comfortable.

Easy to care for, just remove old leaf stems when they become tatty or marked with scorch or black spot and new ones will shoot from the base of the plant. When the flowers begin to emerge, it is a good idea to remove any of the larger leaves to ensure all the flowers can be seen and you'll get the most dramatic display.

It is best to plant these flowers from Autumn until Spring as they will be less stressed, but avoid planting then during hot and dry weather. All will benefit from the addition of plenty of organic matter.

Helleborus × ericsmithii ViV Valeria

Height x Spread: 35cm - 40cm x 40cm

Elegant and distinctive, 'Valeria' delivers in terms of flower quality and quantity. Chock-full of pale dusky-pink buds, the large creamy-white single flowers start to open from late Autumn continuing well into Spring. As the flowers mature their petals take on subtle washes of pink and green that contrast well with the centre of pale-yellow stamens and attractive evergreen marbled foliage.

Like other Hellebores, 'Valeria' is a hard-working plant offering year-round texture and interest in the garden. Easy to grow in fertile, neutral to alkaline soil which is moist but free draining, it is as much at home in a winter container combined with ferns and Ophiopogon as it is in a partially shaded border, although it can cope in slightly sunnier situations too.

Helleborus orientalis 'Magic Aubergine' (Magic Collection)

Height x Spread: 40cm x 40cm

Hellebores with exotic deep colouring are much admired and sought after for adding richness to the winter garden, especially when combined with jewel-like Cornus stems. 'Magic Aubergine' is a striking recent introduction offering refined single blooms in a range of dusky shades from merlot to claret and plum, its petals neatly outlined in white contrasting with bold yellow centres.

Flowering from late Winter far into Spring, its glossy evergreen foliage adds value for the rest of the year too in the form of architectural structure and as a foil for other plants. Preferring partial shade and a rich, moist but free draining non-acidic soil, it works well in a winter planter against a pale background or as mass planting mixed with Epimedium, Erythronium.

Helleborus orientalis 'Magic Picotee'

Height x Spread: 40cm x 40cm

Ever so pretty, 'Magic Picotee' is a recently introduced range of single Hellebores whose flowers come in a spectrum of pastel base colours from palest cream to soft deep pink, with interest added by deep reddish-purple veining. The flower centre is particularly striking with pale green stamens highlighted by a rich wine background.

This graceful floral display lasts from February into April. Plant it where you will see it during a cold winter day to raise the spirits, or keep it in a lightweight portable container as it would make a fantastic occasional table decoration. To thrive it needs a fertile, moist but free draining non-acidic soil in partial to deep shade .

Helleborus orientalis 'Magic Red'

Height x Spread: 40cm x 40cm

With its lush reddish-purple blooms each neatly studded with a pale green centre, plus petals sometimes tipped in white or heavily freckled, the 'Magic Red' series catches the eye. Long flowering from February into April, it continues to add interest in the garden with elegant seed heads and mounds of shiny evergreen leaves.

It is also said to be deer and rabbit resistant, plus with time, will clump up well to suppress surrounding weeds. Perfect for a partially shaded border or underplanting roses, it also works well in a Winter planter perhaps combined with earlier flowering Helleborus niger 'Mont Blanc' for successional blooming. It thrives in a fertile, moist but free draining soil that is non-acidic in partial or deeper shade.

Helleborus ViV® Victoria

Height x Spread: 40cm x 40cm

Helleborus orientalis are much loved and sought after for their ability to inject colour into a gloomy winter garden. 'ViV®Victoria's' lush single flowers are particularly striking with burgundy red petals encircling a crown of pale lime green stamens.

Specially bred to produce lots of flower over a long period of time, the earliest blooms appear in late Autumn in a display that can last well into Spring. Perfect for a cottage or wildlife garden, plant it where you can see it on a cold Winter day or pick individual blooms for a floating display in a shallow bowl of water.

Helleborus x nigercors 'Emma' PBR

Height x Spread: 25cm x 30cm

Erect stems stand above the green-grey foliage, bearing large outward facing, saucer-like white blooms which age to pink and then green. Flowering from late Winter into Spring this evergreen Hellebore is happy to grow in sun or light shade, in any reasonable, free-draining soil.

Plant near the front of your flower beds or borders or alternatively use it to add Winter interest to containers and plant with Spring flowering bulbs.

Helleborus Anna's Red (Frostkiss Series)

Height x Spread: 60cm x 60cm

'Anna's Red' is quite simply stunning, no if's no but's. From late Winter deep into Spring it produces lots of large single deep purplish-red flowers, each boasting a boss of palest lime green stamens. These nectar-rich lovelies are held on dark red stems above delicately marbled evergreen foliage, a combination of jewel-like colour and interesting texture that will light up any cold grey day.

The first commercially released hellebore from a breeding programme painstakingly undertaken by Rodney Davey to combine strong colour and marbled foliage it was named after Anna Pavord, the garden writer. A 'must-have' element for a sophisticated Winter planter or shadier area of your border or cutting garden, early season pollinators will love it too.

Helleborus niger 'Mont Blanc'

Height x Spread: 30cm x 45cm

Even on the bleakest midwinter day Helleborus niger or the Christmas rose helps to brighten the mood and light up the gloomiest of gardens. Easy to grow and early to flower, 'Mont Blanc' comes into bloom mid-December with a display of large pure white single flowers, each set with a delicate pale sulphur centre, glowing above mounds of fresh glossy evergreen foliage.

It looks stunning planted in large groups through a woodland, but works equally well on a small scale as a festive table decoration, picked for a bridal bouquet or a midwinter planter.

Helleborus ViV ® Valentina

Height x Spread: 40cm x 40cm

Warmer in tone than Helleborus ViV ® Victoria, the individual petals of 'Valentina' are a rich dusky plum suffused with deep purple, that elegantly set off a central boss of palest green. Single in form, these nectar-rich blooms are a welcome source of food for early pollinators, reliably opening as early as January and often lasting until the end of March.

A recent introduction from Belgium, 'Valentina' has been specially bred for display in a container on a terrace, bringing much needed cheer to colder, greyer months of the year. Tough and hardy, its breeders claim that cold Winters only serve to intensify the flower colour - we look forward to seeing the effects.

Helleborus Walberton's ® Rosemary PBR (WALHERO)

Height x Spread: 35cm x 60cm

Bred by David Tristram of Walberton's Nursery, this is a relatively new hybrid cross of H. niger and H. x hybridus. H.'Walberton's Rosemary' is a sterile Hellebore producing masses of outward facing flowers from December until the arrival of Spring. These stunning dusty pink flowers stand above the deep green leaves.

'Walberton's Rosemary' prefers a sheltered spot in partial shade with a humus-rich soil. Remove the old leaves in late Autumn to see the flowers as they emerge and to reduce the risk of any fungal disease.