Helleborus x lemonnierae 'HGC Paradenia'

The Helleborus x lemonnieriae 'HGC Paradenia' is a beautiful recent French creation, which seduces with its long and abundant winter flowering, in the form of very large single white flowers held above a beautiful dark green evergreen foliage. This robust and very hardy perennial also has good ground cover capability. It can be grown in borders, under shrubs, mixed borders, as well as in pots. Easy to grow in all regions, even in heavy and chalky soil, it thrives in shade or non-burning sun. Its flowers are very beautiful and precious in winter bouquets.

The Helleborus x lemonnieriae is a herbaceous perennial plant of hybrid origin belonging to the Ranunculaceae family. The 'Paradenia' variety forms a clump 30 cm (12in) high and spreading at least 50 cm (20in), much more over the years. This variety stands out for its long-lasting continuous flowering, which starts in January and lasts until March. Its flowers, produced abundantly, proudly stand abovebeautiful dark and glossy foliage, offering their yellow stamen hearts to the eye. They are composed of 5 white petals barely tinged with green at the base, rounded, arranged in an open cup. The foliage consists of palmate basal leaves, slightly dentate, dark green and shiny. These are evergreen leaves 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16in) long, composed of 7 to 9 leaflets. They actually only live for 8 months and are regularly replaced by new leaves. The Hellébore does not like to be moved once established, with young shoots taking a while to flower. The seeds are sown by ants.

Use hellebores as elements of an ancient tapestry, mixing them with understory plants in brighter colours. They are beautifully highlighted when planted near pieris, rhododendrons, under conifers and surrounded by primroses, anemones, corydalis or dicentras. You can also accompany them with ferns and shade-loving irises to create a beautiful contrast later in the season. Perfect for cut flowers, plant them in large numbers in borders, beds or containers. Helleborus flowers do not wither over time like most other flowers but dry elegantly.