Chimes Tower District

Helleborus orientalis, commonly known as the Lenten rose, is a welcome sight in the late winter and early spring garden, often blooming when little else dares!  Native to regions of southeastern Europe and western Asia, particularly Greece, Turkey, and parts of the Caucasus, this hardy perennial thrives in woodland settings. Its nodding, cup-shaped flowers come in a remarkable range of colors, from soft creams and blush pinks to deep purples and speckled forms, offering subtle beauty during the quieter season. Despite its delicate appearance, Helleborus orientalis is tough and long-lived, with evergreen foliage that provides year-round structure. It’s also deer-resistant and an early resource for pollinators, making it as practical as it is charming in the garden.

This Japanese camellia was selected among seedlings grown from seed collected on a 1984 expedition to So-cheong Island in the Yellow Sea off the northeast coast of South Korea. A small number of seedlings proved to be hardy outdoors in Pennsylvania for more than 20 years. ‘Longwood Centennial’ was selected because of its exceptionally handsome glossy foliage and dense, full growth habit. The cultivar may reach twelve feet in 20 years and is an excellent broad-leaved evergreen for areas where temperatures stay above -11.2 degrees Fahrenheit. Its flowers are red and typical of the species.

A crocus that naturalizes well in open lawns or beneath deciduous trees, Crocus tommasinianus blooms in late winter and early spring.  The pale lavender flowers open in sunlight but remain closed on cloudy days.  They are one of the few crocus that voles and squirrels seem to ignore, making them a good choice for gardens.

Korean rhododendron is one of the earliest flowering shrubs with its bright rosy pink to pinkish purple flowers emerging before its foliage in late winter.  In its native Korea, it grows on rocky, dry slopes.  In the garden, it prefers full sun and moist soil with good drainage. The Korean name for this shrub is Jin-dal-rae. There, the delicate, exquisite blossom is eaten as a delicacy.  A pan-fried sweet rice cake and a traditional Korean form of sake are brewed from the plant flower petals.
 

Leucojum vernum, or spring snowflake, is a graceful early-blooming bulb native to central and southern Europe, often found in moist woodlands. Its nodding, bell-shaped white flowers are easily recognized by the distinct green tip on each of the six equal petals. Though often mistaken for Galanthus (snowdrops), Leucojum appears fuller and more uniform, while Galanthus has three longer outer petals and three shorter inner ones with markings typically only on the inner petals.

One of the first blooms to appear in the new year, Eranthis hyemalis has sunny yellow flowers with a sweet honey-like fragrance. Its flowers look like solitary buttercups sitting on a circle of lacey green leaves. They open wide on sunny days from late winter to early spring and thrive in the shade of deciduous trees.  They will naturalize in well-drained, fertile soil under deciduous trees.