Hellebore Helleborus x hybridus One of the earliest blooming perennials in Mizzou Botanic Garden is the shade-loving hellebore, sometimes blooming through the snow. Blooms usually grow in clusters of one to four five-petaled (actually sepaled) flowers on a thick stem rising above the large, palmate foliage that grows in an attractive mound and remains somewhat green through the winter. Helleborus is a plant family of about 20 species, native to Europe and Asia, with lots of subspecies. It is commonly called Lenten rose, and the most common, Helleborus niger, the white-blooming Christmas rose, has been cultivated for centuries. Its name is derived from the Latin, hellin, to kill, and bora, food. Its roots are poisonous. All cultivars with a Lenten rose parent are collectively referred to as Hellaborus x hybridus. Offspring bloom in variations of white, yellow, green, pink, mauve and purple. There are single and double blooming cultivars in abundance. Some have charming, freckled faces. Hellebores hybridize and reseed freely. That means you will have lots to share — or to spread around your own gardens — but if you are growing more than one cultivar, there is no guarantee as to the bloom color of the offspring and they do not bloom for three years. All photos are H. x hybridus. Shown here are named varieties ‘Yellow Lady’ and ‘Black Diamond’, which are growing by Switzler (to be relocated due to construction this summer). ‘Red Lady’ and ‘Pink Lady’ are growing in the Ellis Perennial Garden. Other varieties can be found growing on the Francis Quadrangle and in the Arts and Science Mall. ‘Red Lady’ and ‘Pink Lady’ varieties are growing in the Ellis Perennial Garden.f Arboriculture training and certification for Jeremy Grasela, a MUBG/Landscape Services groundskeeper Yellow Lady’ and ‘Black Diamond’ varieties, which are growing by Switzler (to be relocated due to construction this summer) Story by Jan Wiese-Fales. Photos by Jenna Sommer and Chris Starbuck.