9. Kingston Cardinal
‘Kingston Cardinal’ was developed by horticulturist Daniel Hinckley, founder of Heronswood Nursery (that was later bought by Burpee) in Kingston, Washington, and Windcliff in Indianola, Washington.
This cultivar produces average size, deep raspberry-red flowers. The single tone creates rich color saturation of both the face and nodding head of each blossom.
Its most unique characteristic is that it is fully sterile, so there will be no self-seeding, and you can’t save the seeds.
This variety tops out at 22 to 26 inches tall and wide.
You can buy ‘Kingston Cardinal’ plants from Burpee.
10. Onyx Odyssey
‘Onyx Odyssey’ features large double blooms in shades of deep purple to near-black.
Flowers measure two to three inches across and rise on sturdy stems above evergreen foliage, appearing in late winter to early spring.
Plants grow 12 to 18 inches tall and spread up to two feet, forming dense clumps over time.
Add dramatic ‘Onyx Odyssey’ to your garden by heading to Burpee to purchase plants.
11. Painted Doubles
Part of the Winter Jewels® series, ‘Painted Doubles’ produces fully double, cup-shaped blooms.
The sepals are creamy white and heavily speckled and brushed with burgundy or plum, giving each flower a hand-painted look.
Winter Jewels® ‘Painted Doubles’
Blossoms appear in late winter to early spring, nodding on 12- to 14-inch stems above evergreen foliage.
Plants form tidy clumps about 14 inches tall and up to two feet wide.
You can find ‘Painted Doubles’ available at Burpee.
12. Peppermint Ice
‘Peppermint Ice’ is a Winter Jewels® series selection from hybridizers Marietta and Ernie O’Byrne.
Soft pink blossoms have fuchsia picotee edging and veining in both the faces and undersides.
This variety is known for retaining its pink hue well into the seed setting stage, when others fade to brown.
Winter Jewels® ‘Peppermint Ice’
This is a shorter stature plant with mature heights that range from 12 to 18 inches, and a 20- to 24-inch spread.
Winter Jewels® ‘Peppermint Ice’ plants are available from Burpee.
13. Phoebe
‘Phoebe’ resembles a tissue paper rose. Colors range from blush to bright pink, and the inner petals are especially frilly.
Both petals and sepals are dotted with deep pink speckles for attractive contrast and depth.
The gently nodding heads of this cultivar are soft pink when viewed from above. The mature dimensions of the plant are 18 to 24 inches tall and wide.
Find ‘Phoebe’ plants for your garden now from Burpee.
14. Sparkling Diamond
Part of the Winter Jewels® series, ‘Sparkling Diamond’ produces fully double white blooms, often speckled with burgundy and touched with green at the base of the petals.
Flowers measure about three inches across and appear in abundance in late winter to early spring on sturdy stems.
Winter Jewels® ‘Sparkling Diamond’
Plants grow 18 inches tall and up to two feet wide, forming tidy evergreen clumps.
Find ‘Sparkling Diamond’ plants available at Burpee.
15. Stained Glass
‘Stained Glass’ has reddish-purple veining and picotee edging, making it one of the darker blossoms.
The overall color lightens during the growing season, further accentuating the dark edging.
The undersides of the blossoms are a saturated reddish-purple that is especially vibrant in the garden.
At maturity, this plant may reach a height of 18 inches and a width of 22 to 26 inches.
Find ‘Stained Glass’ plants now from Burpee.
Twice as Nice
The Helleborus genus offers so much to the home gardener who wants to liven up the late winter garden.
And thanks to the work of hybridizers, a once random treat of nature – the double hellebore – is now readily available.
With 15 of the best selections to choose from, all you need to do now is decide where to plant your new favorites.
They are the perfect companions for other late winter and early spring flowers, like the crocus, daffodil, grape hyacinth, and snowdrop.
Mix or match as you like to fill in an existing landscape scheme, or design an entirely new one.
Have you made your garden twice as nice with the robust blossoms of double hellebores? Let us know in the comments below.
For more information about growing hellebores in your garden, check out these guides next:
