Mailbag: Caring for hellebores -- winter's flowers

Correct on both counts. Leave them alone. They're a little ahead of schedule this year because of the weather. Cutting away dead brown leaves is more for appearance and insect management than the health of the plant. If you have no dead leaves, there's nothing to cut.

There are two types of hellebores: those commonly called Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis) and those called Christmas rose (Helleborus niger). They both look very similar but one blooms earlier, as its name would imply (though not always as early as Christmas). The foliage is mostly evergreen, and the flowers typically last a very long time -- often straight through the end of spring -- but they don't rebloom.

Both types prefer slightly acidic soil and respond well to an application of slow-release fertilizer in early spring.

Enjoy them -- I'm enjoying mine! -- Jessica