The Lenten rose is beginning to flower and will be in bloom for weeks to come.

In the woodland at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Helleborus orientalis (most are hybrids and not the true species) are planted in great swaths, creating an elegant evergreen carpet that ties the garden together. Under trees like Japanese maple and shrubs like Japanese aucuba, hydrangea and upright Japanese plum yew, they provide a sea of color in shades of pink, maroon, white and green.

ERICA GLASENER/Special (ENLARGE)

Helleborus orientalis has been a staple of the Southern shade garden for years. These adaptable perennials provide luscious winter blooms and evergreen foliage.

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Hellebore with Corydalis lutea, which blooms later in the spring.

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I also like them paired with other perennials like our native pachysandra or the blue-green, fernlike foliage of Corydalis lutea, which blooms later in the spring. In a deciduous woodland they make a good companion for early daffodils, providing a foil for the awkward stage daffodils go through when the foliage turns yellow as it ripens off.

Hellebores may resemble roses while in flower, but Lenten roses actually are members of the buttercup family. Helleborus orientalis hybrids have been a staple of the Southern shade garden for years. Adaptable and easy to grow, these perennials provide luscious winter blooms and evergreen foliage. Most hellebores are native to Europe, although I have read that at least one species hails from China.

They are also resistant to deer and voles, which don't like the way the foliage tastes. And although they prefer a moist, well-drained soil, hellebores will tolerate a good bit of drought. If you grow them in sunny situations, make sure they get plenty of water. Plant them high, so that the crown is just above the soil line. I have never fertilized mine, but a good organic all-purpose food applied once a year in early spring is more than adequate. I recommend starting out with soil that is rich in organic matter and well-drained as hellebores don't like soggy conditions.

Exciting new forms include those that are double flowered, anemone flowered and outward facing. Flowers range in color from pure white to almost black as well as speckled and spotted. Some people prefer the white-flowered forms because the blooms show up so well at a time when landscapes tend to be predominantly brown and green. For something different, Helleborus orientalis 'Metallic Blue Lady' offers deep purplish-blue blooms with a silver hue. Also in this series called the Schiemann Strain are 'Blue Lady', 'Pink Lady', 'Red Lady', 'White Spotted Lady' and 'Yellow Lady.'

In recent years, more and more hellebores selected for their flower color are showing up in nurseries and from mail-order sources. Piccadilly Farms in Bishop (706-769-6516), a good source for hellebores, had its annual Hellebore Days last Friday and Saturday. If you missed that, you might want to plan a trip to Doylestown, Pa., for the Heronswood Hellebore Spring Open (215-345-1766), April 20-21, when a large selection of the renowned Heronswood varieties of hellebores will be featured.

Other hellebores to try

• Helleborus argutifolius, the Corsican hellebore: an evergreen with ruggedly toothed, silvery-green leaves that are almost spiny in appearance, topped with creamy light green flowers in late winter. This is a bold architectural plant.

• Helleborus foetidus, the "stinking hellebore" (only if you really get down and stick your nose into the flower): dark green leaves with long "fingers" that cover the 18- to 24-inch stems. Green, bell-like flowers appear in early winter on spikes and look good until early spring. Plant this hellebore with hostas and ferns.

• Helleborus niger, Christmas rose: Beautiful pure white flowers, which appear earlier than those of Helleborus orientalis.

ERICA'S PICK

'Metallic Blue Lady' hellebore

Botanical name: Helleborus orientalis 'Metallic Blue Lady'
About the plant: Purplish-green new growth, with deep purplish-blue blooms with a silver hue. It blooms in late winter to early spring.
Use in the garden: Plant it in the woodland with ferns, hostas, other hellebores or early bulbs like snowdrops for a contrast.
Planting and care: Plant in light shade in a moist, well-drained soil.
Source: McMahan's Nursery, 5727 Cleveland Highway, Clermont; 770-983-3666.

Erica Glasener is an Atlanta horticulturist and host of HGTV's "A Gardener's Diary" (check local listings for airtimes). Her column appears biweekly. Write to her in care of AJC Home & Garden, P.O. Box 4689, Atlanta, GA 30302, or visit her at ericaglasener.com.