The hellebore is a prized addition to the winter garden. When the blooms appear in late February or March, their effect is like the sunshine penetrating a dark, gray sky. This was once a perennial known only to a few serious plant enthusiasts. Now it is more widely available and utilized by many gardeners who wait with great anticipation for it to emerge from dormancy.

Ancient civilizations used the plant for its medicinal properties. It was believed to cure gout, paralysis and insanity. It was also known to be highly toxic; the Greeks used it to poison the wells of their enemies. Word that the hellebore is filled with alkaloid toxins has apparently spread among today's deer population. This is a deerproof plant that is now employed for its extremely decorative quality.

The Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis) is the best known hellebore. Its glossy dark green leaves, which emerge in late winter from a very fibrous underground rhizome, are topped with cup-shaped nodding flowers that amazingly hold their color for at least three months. In my garden, the blooms have lasted until July. The petals are unusual because they are pendulous. They remind me of my wonderful koi, who are always viewed from above, a perspective that best shows the hellebores' coloration.

Hybridizers have created and continue to create magnificent colors and forms within this species. It is like a trip to the ice cream store; you'll have difficulty picking your flavor. There are deep, dark purples, pinks, whites, yellows and even speckles and streaks have been added to give an extra dollop of flavor.

Breeders have also created some cultivars with a more upright habit. Alan Armitage, the well-known plant expert, has given his blessing to 'Ivory Prince,' which is compact with flatter, more open, upward-facing flowers. I prefer the more nodding blossoms, but it is wonderful to have the enormous choice of color, pattern and conformation that is now available.

The hellebore is recommended as a shade plant, but surprisingly, it was discovered growing wild in the open meadows of Europe. It is, however, extremely successful in shaded areas. I plant them under deciduous trees where they receive sunshine in the fall and winter and the filtered light of leaf cover during the spring and summer. Once established, they are extremely drought-tolerant. The only condition that will lead to their demise is a wet, soggy bed. Before planting, amend your soil with compost. They must have good drainage.

The only other condition that they require is that their deep roots must not be disturbed. Once you pick a spot for them in your garden, that will be THE spot and they should not be repositioned. They will establish extensive root systems. A mature hellebore will be about 24 inches tall with a spread of 24 inches.

This is a long-lived, evergreen perennial, but the mound of foliage can sustain a great deal of winter burn. I prefer to cut mine back in the late fall. The new growth emerges with glossy leaves and the flowers are not sacrificed.

The hellebore is a wonderful addition to any garden. It is a focal player at a time when other herbaceous perennials are still dormant. They are available at some local nurseries or from these mail-order nurseries:

• Heronswood Nursery: www.heronswood.com; 1-877-674-4714

• Pine Knot Farm: www.pineknotfarms.com; 1-434-252-1990

• Plant Delights Nursery: www.plantdelights.com; 1-919-772-4794

• Sunshine Farm: www.sunfarm.com; 1-304-497-2208.