Helleborus (Hellebores)

Hellebores, with their winter-to-spring blooms (December – April), provide critical early nectar for queen bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) and hairy-footed flower bees (Anthophora plumipes). Their downward-facing flowers protect pollen from rain, while their evergreen foliage shelters overwintering invertebrates like spiders and ground beetles. Native Hellebores host the Helleborus flea beetle (Psylliodes hellebori). Planted in dappled shade under deciduous trees, they naturalise beautifully alongside snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis), creating essential cold-season pollinator corridors where few other plants thrive.