At Hugh Nunn Wholesale Ltd, previously trading as Hugh Nunn Nurseryman, we have been breeding and propagating Hellebores for the past 30 years. The result – the Harvington collection of Hellebores now trademarked as ‘Harvington Hellebores®’.
Harvington Hellebores® are hardy perennials with beautiful large flowers from December through to the end of March and dark green glossy evergreen foliage providing year round interest.
Easy to grow, excellent garden plants they reliably provide winter colour year after year. Our plants are selected for clarity of flower colour, attractive foliage, vigour and frost hardiness.
The different species and variations of Hellebore make up a magnificent group of garden-worthy plants. The common name given to the white flowering plant that often appears on Christmas cards is the ‘Christmas Rose’ (Helleborus niger) and the varieties that usually appear in late January, February and March are often called ‘Lenten Roses’ – flowering in Lent – and are derived mainly from Helleborus orientalis but are more correctly known as Helleborus x hybridus.
There are at least 16 species of Hellebores. Of these, we grow Helleborus orientalis hybrids and H. niger hybrids we also grow H. argutifolius, H. foetidus, and H. x sternii. These continue to be popular garden-worthy plants.
Planting and Feeding Hellebores
Hellebores are best planted in dappled shade in damp but well drained soil. They should not be allowed to dry out in the first year after planting. Once established they are deep rooting and survive droughts with impunity.
They are hungry plants and respond well to being planted with compost or well-rotted manure. This can also be applied as mulch around established plants in the Spring. If compost or manure is not available, any balanced granular or liquid feed will encourage vigour during the growing season.
Helleborus x hybridus ‘Harvington hybrids’
Harvington Hellebores® are bred from our own breeding lines. Single and double flowering Helleborus x hybridus include an ever-increasing range of beautiful forms and colours. Our core colours include the following:
Single Flowered Hellebores
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- Harvington Single White
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- Harvington Single White Speckled
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- Harvington Single Yellow Dark Eye
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- Harvington Single Yellow
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- Harvington Single Yellow Speckled
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- Harvington Single Apricot
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- Harvington Single Picotee
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- Harvington Single Pink
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- Harvington Single Pink Speckled
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- Harvington Single Red
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- Harvington Single Smokey
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- Harvington Single Black
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- Harvington Single Limes
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- Harvington Single Shades of Night
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- Harvington Single Dusky
Double Flowered Hellebores
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- Harvington Double Lilac Speckled
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- Harvington Double White
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- Harvington Double White Speckled
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- Harvington Double Cream Speckled
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- Harvington Double Yellow
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- Harvington Double Yellow Speckled
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- Harvington Double Blush
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- Harvington Double Pink
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- Harvington Double Pink Speckled
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- Harvington Double Lime
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- Harvington Double Apricot
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- Harvington Double Green Speckled
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- Harvington Double Purple Cascade
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- Harvington Double Chocolate
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- Harvington Double Red
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- Harvington Double Purple
Other Hellebores we supply
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- Helleborus niger ‘Harvington Hybrids’
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- Helleborus niger ‘Harvington Double Petticoat’
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- Helleborus foetidus
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- Helleborus foetidus ‘Harvington Pewter’
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- Helleborus argutifolius
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- Helleborus x sternii
Helleborus niger ‘Harvington Hybrids’
A superb strain of Christmas Rose with attractive evergreen foliage. White flowers with golden stamens are produced from December to March.
Helleborus niger ‘Harvington Double Petticoat’
Very attractive double flowered Christmas Rose, with golden stamens and pretty frilly flower centres likened to a ladies petticoat. Dark green leathery evergreen leaves. Flowers from December to March. First released in 2008 following breeding from various forms of H. niger especially one selected by our friend Julian Reed.
Helleborus foetidus
H. foetidus is an excellent garden plant native to the British Isles with striking lime green clusters of flowers in late winter. We have selected the best over the years and this is an excellent vigorous form.
Helleborus foetidus ‘Harvington Pewter’
H. foetidus ‘Harvington Pewter’ is a very attractive form with a silvery sheen to the leaves and reddish stems.
Helleborus argutifolius
H. argutifolius is an excellent garden plant with leathery light green leaves and attractive clusters of pale green flowers in late winter.
Helleborus x sternii
H. x sternii is a hybrid between H. argutifolius and H. lividus with silvery leaves and pinkish stems and pink tinged lime green flowers in late winter.