This Is Not the Year for New Plant Varieties

Helleborus "Frostkiss Pippa’s Purple" has winter foliage that’s much more attractive than others in the group. The leaves sit several inches above the leaf litter and don’t brown and collapse like other Hellebore selections. The plant shown Is only a year old. ANDREW MESSINGER

Helleborus f. "Red Silver" is another hellebore that has attractive winter foliage. Like fingers on an outstretched han,d the palmate foliage is dark green with red stems leading to the crown. This plant is also 1 year old. ANDREW MESSINGER

As with most other Hellebores, the foliage (in this case H. "Confetti Cake") can become a bit ratty during the winter. Some, but not all leaves can brown while others in the same cluster can remain green until replaced with new leaves in the spring and summer. If in a highly visible bed some light pruning can tidy things up a bit. ANDREW MESSINGER