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types of hellebores

If you’re searching for the perfect winter and early spring colour for your New Zealand garden, exploring the different types of hellebores is an excellent place to begin. Hellebores, also known as Lenten Roses or Winter Roses, are evergreen perennials prized for their resilience and variety of colours, shapes, and textures. With their shade-tolerant nature and long-lasting blooms, hellebores have become a staple in many kiwi gardens. In this guide, you’ll discover popular types of hellebores, what makes each unique, and how to choose the right varieties for your garden.

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Helleborus Pink Hybrid (Hellebore)

Helleborus Pink Hybrid is a beautiful winter-flowering perennial offering blooms in shades of soft to deep pink. It flowers from mid to late winter, brightening shaded spaces when little else is in bloom. The Plant Company supplies healthy, NZ-grown Helleborus Pink Hybrid plants that thrive in cool, shaded areas and require minimal maintenance.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Perennials
Height: 45 cm
Spread: 45 cm
Flowering time: Spring, Winter
Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas
Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Tropical
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Helleborus Yellow Hybrid (Hellebore)

Helleborus Yellow Hybrid is a cheerful winter-flowering perennial that produces soft yellow blooms from mid to late winter. Ideal for brightening shaded garden spaces, it delivers long-lasting colour and low-maintenance appeal. The Plant Company supplies robust, NZ-grown Helleborus Yellow Hybrid plants suited to a wide range of garden styles and climates.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Perennials
Height: 45 cm
Spread: 45 cm
Flowering time: Spring, Winter
Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas
Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Tropical
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Helleborus Apricot Hybrid (Hellebore)

Helleborus Apricot Hybrid is a soft and elegant winter-flowering perennial that produces blooms in warm apricot and blush tones. Flowering from mid...

From$19.95
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Helleborus White Hybrid (Hellebore)

Helleborus White Hybrid is a timeless winter-flowering perennial that produces clean white blooms held above lush evergreen foliage. Flowering...

From$19.95
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Helleborus White Magic (Hellebore)

Helleborus 'White Magic' is an early-flowering perennial that produces crisp white blooms in mid to late winter. Its compact size and tidy growth...

From$19.95
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Helleborus English Thoroughbred Series (Winter Rose)

Helleborus 'English Thoroughbred' is a graceful winter-flowering perennial that features soft pink blooms with subtle green undertones. This variety...

From$29.95
Helleborus orientalis with colourful pink flowers.
Helleborus orientalis (Lenten Rose)

Helleborus orientalis, commonly known as Lenten Rose, is a hardy perennial prized for its elegant winter and early spring blooms. Flowers appear in...

From$22.95
Viola odorata plants with lush green foliage and purple flowers.
Viola odorata (Sweet Violet)

Viola odorata, commonly called Sweet Violet, is a charming perennial known for its fragrant blooms and lush green foliage. Native to Europe but...

From$23.39
Hedera helix 'Needlepoint' creeping stems with green foliage.
Hedera helix 'Needlepoint'

Hedera helix ‘Needlepoint’ is a refined evergreen ivy featuring small, deeply lobed leaves with a delicate, pointed shape. This compact and elegant...

From$14.95
Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' shrubs with lime-green flowers and lush, green foliage.
Hydrangea 'Limelight'

The 'Limelight' Hydrangea is a showstopping variety celebrated for its large, conical lime-green flower heads that gradually soften to cream, blush...

From$21.95
Coprosma repens 'Middlemore' high-quality plants for sale at The Plant Company nursery.
Coprosma 'Middlemore'

Coprosma 'Middlemore' is a hardy New Zealand native shrub valued for its dense bright green foliage and compact rounded growth habit. Well suited to...

From$16.95
Lomandra Little Pal plants with lush green foliage.
Lomandra Little Pal

Lomandra Little Pal is a compact ornamental grass grown for its fine, green-yellow foliage and tidy, rounded form. Growing to approximately 60 cm in...

From$17.87
Pittosporum 'Mountain Green' lush, green foliage.
Pittosporum 'Mountain Green'

Pittosporum 'Mountain Green' is a robust New Zealand native shrub prized for its vibrant green foliage and dense growth. Perfect for creating privacy...

From$22.01
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Fraxinus Green Glow

Fraxinus Green Glow is a variety of Ash grown for its rich and colourful foliage. This deciduous tree produces dense and lush, bright green foliage...

From$511.09
Plagianthus regius as a small tree in a garden.
Plagianthus regius (Ribbonwood)

Plagianthus regius, commonly known as Ribbonwood or Manatu, is one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing native trees. It can reach 10–15 metres tall and...

From$24.77
Acer palmatum Hanami Nishiki tree with lush green foliage.
Acer palmatum Hanami Nishiki (Acer Hanami Nishiki)

Acer palmatum Hanami Nishiki is a stunning Japanese Maple due to its delicate foliage and small stature. Small and soft looking leaves emerge...

From$399.95
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Acer palmatum Fjellheim (Fjellheim Japanese Maple)

Acer palmatum Fjellheim is an impressive Japanese Maple featuring a rich display of delicate foliage held on colourful stems. Leaves on this small...

From$399.95
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Acer Esk Sunset (Eskimo Sunset Maple)

Acer pseudoplatanus Esk Sunset, commonly known as the Eskimo Sunset Sycamore Maple, is grown for its rich and colourful foliage. The lush leaves on...

From$299.95
Large Juniperus 'Kaizuka' trees as a cluster.
Juniperus chinensis Kaizuka

Juniperus 'Kaizuka', commonly known as the Hollywood Juniper tree or Torulosa Juniper, is an upright conifer with an oriental style. It bears...

From$270.40
An exquisite Tall Fescue lawn.
Tall Fescue

Tall Fescue is an excellent lawn grass choice for New Zealand homeowners seeking a dark green, tough, and attractive lawn. It is widely used by ready...

From$13.46
The best Citrus fertiliser in NZ
Citrus Fertiliser

Applying the correct citrus fertiliser in NZ is essential for achieving better quality fruit, higher yields, and a much healthier and...

From$13.40
Clonex Rooting Hormone one litre bottle.
Rooting Hormone (Rooting Hormone)

Clonex is the preferred rooting hormone for nurseries across NZ and the world. It is the industry standard for rooting softwood, semi-hardwood, and...

From$181.05
fruiting-plant-fertiliser-
Fruit Tree Fertiliser (Fruit Tree Fertiliser)

Fruiting plants respond well to fruit tree fertiliser with better quality produce, higher yields, and a much healthier and brighter looking plant...

From$13.40
victory-gold-herbicide-
Victory Gold - 1 Litre

Victory Gold is an herbicide used to control many types of broadleaf weeds in lawns. Susceptible weeds include: cape daisy, catsear, chickweed...

From$186.48
bahco-grafting-knife-1
Bahco Grafting Knife

This grafting knife from Bacho is the industry standard for all types of grafting including cleft, side approach, and air layering. The design...

From$107.10
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Tree Fertiliser (Tree Fertiliser)

Using tree fertiliser results in plants having better quality foliage, more profuse flowering, stronger stems, and a much healthier and brighter...

From$13.40
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Rose Fertiliser

Roses respond exceptionally well to rose fertiliser with better quality flowers and foliage, stronger stems, and a much healthier and brighter...

From$13.40
ignite-herbicide-1
Ignite Herbicide

Ignite is a selective herbicide used to control foreign grasses in a Fine Fescue lawn. It is not to be used on Tall Fescue or any other lawn types...

From$329.37
native-plant-fertiliser-
Native Plant Fertiliser (Native Fertiliser)

Selecting the correct native plant fertiliser is essential as they often tend to be slow growing and so require a tailored nutrient plan to meet...

From$13.40
vegetable-plant-fertiliser-
Vegetable Fertiliser (Vegetable Fertiliser)

Vegetable plants respond exceptionally well to The Plant Company’s vegetable fertiliser with better quality produce, higher yields, and a much...

From$13.40
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Helleborus White Picotee (Hellebore)

Helleborus 'White Picotee' is a refined winter-flowering perennial that produces crisp white blooms with fine burgundy edging. Blooming from mid to...

OUT OF STOCK
Helleborus Jacob Classic plants in flower.
Helleborus Jacob Classic (Corsican Hellebore)

Helleborus 'Jacob Classic' is one of the earliest winter-flowering hellebores, producing pure white blooms from as early as late autumn. This compact...

OUT OF STOCK
Helleborus Pink Hybrid (Hellebore)

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Hedera, Helleborus, and Hydrangea, or related Categories - Evergreen Climbers, Perennials, and Deciduous Shrubs.

Search types of hellebores

Main Types of Hellebores

The hellebore family offers several species and cultivars, each with its own distinctive beauty and growing habit. Here are some of the most popular types of hellebores found in New Zealand gardens:

Helleborus orientalis and Hybrids (Lenten Rose)

These classic hellebores, including numerous hybrids, are best known for their wide colour spectrum—ranging from white and pink to deep plum and apricot. Many feature intriguing freckled or picotee-edged petals. For example, Helleborus White Picotee (Hellebore) exhibits elegant white blooms edged in magenta, perfect for adding subtle drama to your shaded borders.

Helleborus niger (Christmas Rose)

Famed for its early season flowers, usually appearing from late winter, Helleborus niger produces pristine white blooms that often age to light pink. While not as widely grown in New Zealand as other types of hellebores, its legend and charm are unmatched.

Corsican Hellebores

Known for their robust foliage and enduring flowers, Corsican hellebores include several striking cultivars. Helleborus Jacob Classic (Corsican Hellebore) shines with elegant, creamy green flowers, while Helleborus Elegance White (Corsican Hellebore) brings a light touch with its pale blooms. Varieties like Helleborus Pennys Pink (Corsican Hellebore) offer delightful pink-mauve shades that brighten up winter garden beds.

Helleborus x sternii

Helleborus x sternii varieties are prized for their attractive foliage, with serrated, marbled leaves and clusters of pale green or pinkish blooms. Helleborus sternii Clifton (Hellebore) is a standout for its silvery leaves and subtle flower tones, making it a favourite for woodland gardens or shady borders needing year-round appeal.

Growing and Using Hellebores

The many types of hellebores thrive in partial shade with well-drained soil. They’re perfect for planting beneath deciduous trees, creating groundcovers, or adding winter interest to mixed perennial beds. Their long-lasting, nectar-rich flowers also provide food for pollinators during the cooler months.

Whichever types of hellebores you choose, their low maintenance needs and robust elegance will reward your garden for years to come. Explore cultivars like Helleborus White Picotee (Hellebore), Helleborus Jacob Classic (Corsican Hellebore), or Helleborus Pennys Pink (Corsican Hellebore) to find the perfect fit for your landscape. With a little care, you’ll enjoy the enduring charm of hellebores each winter and spring.


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Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

–The Plant Company

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