Last winter 'Winterfall' was a firm favourite with visitors to the nursery. Flowering in mid December with large pure white flowers - all neatly set off by a lime green boss of stamens - the simple elegance of the blooms, standing proud above the glossy dark evergreen deeply cut foliage, ensured it flew out of the door.

Very versatile, it makes a wonderful table centre for a seasonal meal before being planted out in the garden, where it will light up shadier areas, enticing you out on a cold winter day. Long flowering and easy to grow, it thrives in a neutral to alkaline soil that is fertile and moist but free-draining.

HELLEBORUS niger 'Winterfall'

Special Offer 3 x HELLEBORUS niger 'Winterfall for £15 (These plants are available in a 12cm pots).

Helleborus x nigercors

H. x nigercors is a hybrid of the sun loving H. argutifolius (the Corsican hellebore) and the shade loving H. niger (the Christmas rose).

The slightly toothed leaves, which are divided into three parts, remind one of the parent plant H. argutifolius. The plant habit and the white flowers, which might have a green or cream colour as they mature, are reminiscent of H. niger.

If you are looking for a Hellebore which will be happy in either sun or partial shade and that will tolerate a free draining soil, then you won't go far wrong with Helleborus x nigercors ‘Emma’ . The flower stems stand above the green-grey foliage, bearing large outward facing, saucer-like white blooms which age to pink and then green. This evergreen hellebore flowers from mid December to March.

Helleborus x nigercors ‘Emma’