In recent times, plants people have been breeding more and more varieties of gorgeous hellebores to tempt us with as winter turns to spring. I find I can’t resist their unique flowers and occasionally treat myself to a new hybrid. However, sometimes the oldies are the best!

The Corsican hellebore, H.argutifolius, is a wonderful species that has been grown in gardens for many years and is still my favourite. It starts to flower in January in my garden and will continue putting on a show well into April with its bowl-shaped, pale green flowers above leathery, prickly-edged, sea-green leaves. It sets seed after flowering and I usually find a crop of baby plants nearby to pot up and grow on come the autumn.

Its handsome foliage is a long-lasting source of interest after the flowers have passed. Tall growing, to as much as 90cm and about 75cm wide. Good in a mixed border with shrubs and perennials, it is happy in full sun or part shade. Very hardy, despite its Mediterranean roots.