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A Rich Winter Border Idea with Hellebores and Foliage Plants

Plant Combinations, Flowerbeds Ideas, Winter Borders, Spring Borders

Garden ideas, Border ideas, Plant Combinations, Flowerbeds Ideas, Winter borders, Spring Borders, Lenten Roses, Christmas Roses, Helleborus lividus, Ophiopogon nigrescens, Arum italicum 'Marmoratum', Tulipa 'Red Riding Hood'

A very interesting plant combination with an outstanding mix of winter foliage where the blue-green leaves of Helleborus lividus (Majorcan Hellebore) contrast dramatically with the jet black foliage of Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ (Black Mondo), the arrow-shaped, marbled gray-green leaves of Arum italicum ‘Marmoratum’ (Italian Arum) and the richly purple-mottled leaves of Tulipa ‘Red Riding Hood’. Impervious to even the most dreadful weather, they remain attractive from winter into spring.

Blooming for weeks from mid-winter to early spring, Helleborus lividus (Majorcan Hellebore) will enchant you with its open clusters of up to 8 or 10 outfacing, pale rose-pink to silver-green flowers. In early spring, the highly popular Greiggi tulip ‘Red Riding Hood’ will take over and bring sparkles to the garden with its bright scarlet blooms revealing a small black heart inside.

Noticeably less hardy than other hellebores (Zone 8-9), you may want to replace this Majorcan Hellebore with some of its popular hybrids if you live in a colder area. Among them, Helleborus x sternii, a hybrid of Helleborus argutifolius (Corsican Hellebore) and H. lividus, is root hardy to Zone 6. Helleborus x ballardia, a hybrid of Helleborus niger (Christmas Rose) and H. lividus, is hardy to Zone 7 and is tolerant of a wide range of light conditions, from full sun to full shade.

Overall, a delightful color show that will provide gardeners with some of the greatest pleasures in winter and early spring. Enjoy!

Garden Information

Hardiness 8
Heat Zones 3 - 9
Climate Zones 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Exposure Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid)
Winter
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Loam
Soil pH Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Landscaping Ideas Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden

Plants In This Garden

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Helleborus (Hellebore) Tulipa (Tulip)
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Helleborus x ballardiae HGC Pink Frost (Hellebore)
Helleborus x ballardiae ‘Candy Love’ (Hellebore)
Tulipa ‘Winnipeg’ (Greigii Tulip)
Tulipa ‘Toronto’ (Greigii Tulip)
Tulipa ‘Sweet Lady’ (Greigii Tulip)
Tulipa ‘Pinocchio’ (Greigii Tulip)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Garden Information

Hardiness 8
Heat Zones 3 - 9
Climate Zones 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Exposure Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid)
Winter
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Loam
Soil pH Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Landscaping Ideas Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Helleborus (Hellebore) Tulipa (Tulip)
Get Garden Design Ideas
Search Gardens

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Arum italicum subsp. italicum 'Marmoratum' (Italian Arum) N/A Buy Plants
Tulipa 'Red Riding Hood' (Greigii Tulip) N/A Buy Plants

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