Helleborus foetidus (Stinking Hellebore)

Nice little evergreens (very little - 1ft x 1ft) with a touch of marijuana and a bit of exotic scheffleras. Grow lots together if you find they like your soil - they form a wonderful texture when grown en masse and they'll grow underneath things quite happily (they prefer shade). Good drainage seems to be the key - particularly on chalky soil but worth trying anywhere.

The flowers a re a bit weird but they come out early so are a pleasant harbinger of spring. One can always remove them if one prefers to just look at the lovely foliage.

Severe frost (-4°c or below) will give the leaves a glazed, pendulous look. It can look terminal but it's not. They recover wonderfully well as soon as the temperature rises.

Propagated by us from seed.