While winter is still at its worst, the buds of hellebores burst through, their delicate blooms opening in an ever-expanding range of colours and forms as spring progresses. Focusing on these popular plants, this book features practical advice on cultivation and propagation, with a detailed explanation of how to improve your plants through the breeding and selection of better strains. Jargon-free accounts are included of species in the wild, descriptions of the varieties currently being grown, and discussions of the origins of some of the most interesting and controversial varieties. Also provided is an extensive chapter on associating hellebores with other plants and arranging groupings for maximum effect in the garden. There are sections on growing hellebores in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland, and contributions from hellebore enthusiasts and accounts of the work of recent hellebore pioneers.