winter flowering plants

Helleborus x glandforensis 'Ice n' Roses Red'

Lenten Roses parade continues

Two more of our favorite sterile lenten roses are putting on quite a show today. The first is Helleborus x glandorfensis ‘Ice n’ Roses Red’. Below that is Helleborus x lemperii ‘Walberton’s Rosemary’, a stunning David Tristram hybrid that PDN will have available later this year, for the first time in four years. Join us

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Crocus tommasinianus

Tommy – a winter rock opera

In full flower in early February is the amazing Crocus tommasinianus, also knows as Tommy’s crocus, and among bulb collectors, simply as Tommy. It was named after the late Austrian botanist, Muzio Giuseppe Spirito de Tommasini (1794-1879). Our clump below is over 30 years old, and is every bit as stunning as it was when

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Helleborus x nigercors 'Ice Breaker Gala'

Christmas Rose on a Stick

We’ve always loved the Christmas rose, Helleborus niger, and a few years ago, European breeders were able to cross it with Helleborus argutifolius. Helleborus niger is a white-flowered species with below ground flowering stems (acaulescent), while Helleborus argutifolius is a green-flowered species with above ground flowering stems (caulescent). The hybrids, known as Helleborus x nigercors,

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Parrotia persica flower buds

Persian Ironwood Ablaze with Color

Looking out our home window this week, I shrieked that the Persian ironwood, Parrotia persica was in flower, while Anita looked on as though I’d lost my mind- which isn’t a rare occurence. I grant you, most folks probably don’t get as excited as I do, over flowers that normal folks can barely see, but

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Helleborus x ballardiae 'Mahogany Snow'

The Christmas Rose Bowl

Coming in second place to the Helleborus niger we posted earlier is Helleborus x ballardiae ‘Mahogany Snow’. This is a cross of the Christmas rose, Helleborus niger and Helleborus lividus. The flowers emerge white, then age to a lovely salmon pink. We find this hellebore hybrid much easier to grow than either parent.

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First Flowers of Flat Iris

Late December marks our first flowering of Iris planifolia. This odd native to Southern Europe and Northern Africa has a similar distribution to the better-known Iris unguicularis, but this Iris belongs to the group, known as Juno or bulbous iris. These deciduous iris are extremely sensitive to summer moisture, which is why this resides in

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