Hellebores are one of my favorite herbaceous perennials. Sometimes called "Lenten Roses" or "Christmas Roses," Hellebores shine mightily in the winter/early spring landscape. They're blooming in my garden as we speak, and thankfully weren't overly offended by the sprinkling of snow we received last night. Their sturdy, care-free nature is one of the things I love about them.

Here in zone 7, Hellebores are hardy (they're hardy in zones 4 - 9), and the ones in my garden are in bloom for what seems like months. The leaves definitely stay up year-round, and once the blooms have faded, the foliage is equally as lovely.

Hellebores like a bit of sun mixed in with their shade, and I've found them to be easily divided (and shared) in the fall. They have spread and now grow in groups in about six different locations throughout my gardens; about ten years ago my mother-in-law gave me the original planting clump for Easter.

According to Hellebores.org, "There are some problems and diseases that deserve attention. Two of the most ugly are 'Black Spot' and 'Black Death', the latter being fatal to the plant and a very serious concern for hellebore collectors."

Like the author on that site, however, I have never had any problems with my Hellebores. They're a perennial I would highly recomment to gardeners of all experiences, though I'd suggest that if you're an immediate-gratification-gal like me that you not start them by seed.

• Do you have Hellebores in your garden?
• Are they in bloom?
• What color and variety do you have?
• Do you share them by propagation, or do you start them from seed?