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10 December | 2022 H ellebores are winter-blooming annuals that feature resilient deep-green foliage. Because of their winter bloom times, hellebores have earned the nickname "winter roses." Despite this beloved moniker, hellebores (genus Helleborus) have no relation to roses (genus Rosa/family Rosaceae) and, instead, trace their lineage to the Ranunculaceae (crowfoot/buttercup) family, which also comprises Delphinium and Consolida (larkspur); Aconitum (monkshood); Anemone (windfl ower); Aquilegia (columbine); Clematis; Nigella ( fennel); and, of course, Ranunculus—among many others. Within the genus Helleborus, there are currently 22 recognized species; as cut fl owers and potted plants, the most common species are Helleborus niger (Christmas rose) and Helleborus orientalis (Lenten rose). Among the varieties, you can fi nd fl owers in purplish black, purple, pink, red, green, yellow and white, with all of these being capable of aging into an array of hues. For designers craving extra drama, hellebores are also available in doubled-fl owered varieties, and some varieties feature distinctive speckled petals. In the gardening world, hellebores are collectively called Helleborus × hybridus—interspecifi c hybrids that are derived mainly from the H. orientalis species although there are also H. niger hybrids, as well. Commercially, as cut fl owers, some varieties of hellebores are available year-round, but the widest selection of hybrid varieties can be found at wholesale suppliers from September through March, from both domestic and international growers, particularly in the Netherlands. Due to the environmental conditions that hellebores require, there are few large growers of these fl owers in the U.S. ey can be sourced from "local" growers in cool climates as well as from wholesalers such as Mayesh Wholesale Florist, which currently lists In Season: By Tonneli Grüetter Helleb es Helleborus × hybridus WINTER JEWELS ™ 'Onyx Odyssey' Photo courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries

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