These little, bell-shaped flowers are one of the first signs of spring, and they always manage to put a smile on our faces. Plus, they’re great for bees and other pollinators who are looking for nectar early in the season.
The Lenten Rose or Christmas Rose (Helleborus species) is a wonderful perennial that should be a staple in all gardens. The Lenten Rose or Christmas Rose (Helleborus species) is a wonderful perennial that should be a staple in all gardens.
Another plant with remarkable winter interest are the many cultivars of Witch Hazel (Hammamelis vernalis). Most can get rather large; easily 10-12 feet high and wide so give them room.
These tiny flowers come in all sorts of shades, from deep purple to sunny yellow, and they can start blooming as early as late February.
They typically start blooming in mid-March in Pittsburgh, and you can find them just about everywhere – in gardens, on hillsides, and even along the side of the road.