I’ll admit that the past couple of years have been a little lacklustre in regard to Hellebore introductions and availability, but I am happy to report that 2025 is going to change all that. This is the year that is going to bring us larger flowers, more intense colours (which include green) and even a few more double varieties.
Amsterdam Garden Centre is currently offering 55 cultivars for online presale, with many of those currently in stock so that you can enjoy those blooms in person. That said, here are 12 Hellebore hybrids that really have me looking forward to the upcoming season.
‘Illumi Lime’
A newer introduction from the Rodney Davey Marbled Group that is already blooming at the garden centre and stopping customers in their tracks. The large outward-facing blooms are a bold kiwi-lime colour, and the prominent yellow stamens make the whole flower sparkle. Add to that matching green-veined foliage and you have the best that hellebores can offer.
(Illumi Lime | 📸 MK Lascelle)
‘California Dreaming’
Yellow is a much-underrated colour when it comes to Hellebores, as it is a hue that really stands out on those dull winter days. This new variety from the Honeymoon Series features clear yellow 3-inch wide single blooms that are borne in abundance (40-60 flowers) on mature specimens.
(California Dreaming | 📸 Walter Gardens )
‘North Star Plum’
A little bit of Terra Nova Nurseries former dazzle in regard to Hellebore introductions has been reignited with this eye-catching double. You can expect each plum-purple petal to be outlined by a delicate pink picotee and further popped by the golden-yellow stamens.
(North Star Plum | 📸 Terra Nova Nurseries)
‘Dashing Groomsmen’
Black is back in fashion with this exciting double-blooming variety which features fluffy 3-inch wide blooms of a dark purple with a slate grey reverse. The golden stamens literally glow at centre stage of this Proven Winners introduction.
(Dashing Groomsmen | 📸 Walter Gardens)
‘Strawberry Moon’
This long-blooming (December to March) Hellebore has abundant single blooms that the grower describes as deep rose, but I would consider more a strawberry-pink hue that we don’t encounter very often. Another bonus here is that these are tissue-cultured and not produced from a seed strain, so you are going to get exactly what you see.
(Strawberry Moon | 📸 Hilverda Florist)
'Liara’
The 4” wide single blooms are some of the largest I have ever encountered on any Hellebore, and they stand well above the foliage. The face is white with rose-pink highlights but don’t stop there, as the reverse is an amazing rose-purple with glowing white tips.
(Liara | 📸 MK Lascelle)
‘Swiss Alps’
The newest member of the Honeymoon series has already been picked up by Proven Winners. The single white blooms much resemble the hardy hibiscus ‘Red Heart’ with its deep burgundy eye, and it’s bound to show well in that low winter light.
(Swiss Alps | 📸 Walter Gardens)
‘Rio Carnival’
A riot of colour which combines pale yellow petals which are heavily blotched in burgundy-red spotting that silhouette the central golden stamens. Some of these brilliant single blooms will have spots that bleed into each other while others are well separated, creating a dazzling botanical tapestry.
(Rio Carnival | 📸 Walter Gardens)
‘Irish Luck’
I told you that green was trending as a botanical colour and this latest Hellebore from the Honeymoon series proves it. The single blooms are a perfect clear lime hue, perfectly accented by a central burgundy flare and pale-yellow stamens.
'Vibey Velvet'
The latest introduction from the Rodney Davey Marbled Group features outward facing magenta-red blooms that aren’t quite as large as its sister plant ‘Anna’s Red’, but there appears to be many more of them. This evergreen hellebore also produces highly marbled foliage that perfectly compliments the flowers.
(Vibey Velvet | 📸 Pacific Plug & Liner)
‘Frozen Kristoff’
Each translucent single white flower is highlighted by hundreds of fine raspberry-red speckles. It is a member of the Hygge series and produced by tissue culture, so you are not going to be disappointed when this one comes into bloom and looks exactly like the photograph.
(Frozen Kristoff | 📸 Plants Nouveau)
‘Tropical Sunset’
The three letters that best describe this variety are simply ‘WOW’. Imagine clear yellow flowers perfectly outlined and lightly streaked in burgundy with red nectaries nestled below yellow stamens, this hybrid by Hans Hansen has really pulled out all the stops.
(Tropical Sunset | 📸 Walter Gardens)
Copyright 2025 MK Lascelle
