November started out marvelously with highs in the 50s(F) and one day even hit 66°(19C). The second week the switch flipped and the real November showed up with a vengeance. Most nights have been in the teens, but we also got two nights that dipped into single digits (9F=-13C)–that’s unseasonably low for November and was the death knell for many perennials that had been looking presentable up until that point.
‘Pink Frost’ hellebore, however, looks more than presentable.
Helleborus x ballardiae ‘HGC Pink Frost’
‘Pink Frost’ opened its first flower in October. This is flower #2 with a third on the way.
I have other hellebores that normally bloom in November but I don’t even see buds on them. However, Helleborus x sahinii ‘Winterbells’ has been blooming since–well, actually I can’t remember a time when it wasn’t in bloom, which is pretty amazing for a hellebore.
Yes, it’s a mostly green flower, but hey–it’s a flower and it’s November.
The shorter new growth is nicely upright, but the older stems flop over while they continue to bloom.
The pansies and violas are making a heroic effort, but those two 9-degree nights just about did them in.
These pansies have been blooming since a neighbor left them on the door step for May Day.
I bought this container in mid-October knowing it would only last a month. I just couldn’t resist 75% off! If I have time before deep snow and consistently bitter cold arrive, I’ll plant the heuchera and combine the violas with the pansies.
By the way, finding a dandelion blooming in November is a very cheering thing.
It’s now on the fourth and last bloom.
You might also like . . .
- Five Surprising November Blooms
- 8 Plants That Look Good After Bitter Cold
- Garden Color in Dreary November
- How To Fight The Winter Blues: Pot Up Some Amaryllis
- How to Pull Your Potted Plants Through the Winter
Inspired by the words of Elizabeth Lawrence, “We can have flowers nearly every month of the year,” Carol of May Dreams Gardens started Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. On the 15th of every month, garden bloggers from all over the world publish what is currently blooming in their gardens. Check it out at May Dreams Gardens.
These are some nice ideas what flowers to plant if you want to keep your garden blooming this time of the year. Thank you for the article!
Thanks for this post! I had no idea that flowers could last so late in the fall. How long will the hellebores flower if it doesn’t get too cold? And how cold is too cold for them? It seems like fall would be a lot nicer if there were flowers– maybe a good project for next year.
I really don’t know how cold it needs to get for hellebores (and we are only talking about H. niger and hybrids with H. niger) to stop blooming, because mine get buried in snow while blooming, and they finish blooming the following spring after the snow melts off of them.
Very nice! I’m amazed that you still have things blooming, and they’re beautiful examples. As Linda mentioned, record lows in the single digits wiped us out here in S. Wisconsin. That Hellebore is really special!
Beautiful amaryllis!
Love the Hellebores, too!
Those 9 degree nights even did in my Sheffies which have been so valiant. I am done with outside bloom, but the winterberries, red and gold, are very cheering.
That’s a sweet hellebore. I killed it! It was in a container, but, might have drowned in the winter.
You have some serious cold to deal with up North. Our November has been about the same except our colds haven’t been as severe. The cold is coming though. Your bloom remnants are inspiring. No one sells pansies in fall around here. I just love them even in their crumbled state. Hellebores are fabulous. They keep on despite the weathers. Happy GBBD.
Much more than I’ve got. Those 9 degree nights ended it all.
Quite a few blooms from a garden in such a cold climate! A good year!