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Helleborus niger (Christmas Rose)

Christmas Rose, Bear's Foot, Black Hellebore, Brumal Rose, Christmas Plant, Christopher's Herb, Christ's Herb, Clove-Tongue, St Agnes' Rose

Helleborus Niger, Christmas Rose, Bear's Foot, Black Hellebore, Brumal Rose, Christmas Plant, Christopher's Herb, Christ's Herb, Clove-Tongue, St Agnes' Rose, White Hellebores
Helleborus Niger, Christmas Rose, Bear's Foot, Black Hellebore, Brumal Rose, Christmas Plant, Christopher's Herb, Christ's Herb, Clove-Tongue, St Agnes' Rose, White Hellebores
Helleborus Niger, Christmas Rose, Bear's Foot, Black Hellebore, Brumal Rose, Christmas Plant, Christopher's Herb, Christ's Herb, Clove-Tongue, St Agnes' Rose, White Hellebores

Celebrated in songs and stories, Helleborus niger, commonly called Christmas Rose, is a winter-blooming evergreen perennial with large, bowl-shaped, glistening white flowers, 3 in. across (8 cm), adorned with crowns of showy golden-yellow stamens. Unlike most hellebores, the flowers face outward attracting interest. They are borne on short, thick stems and generally do not rise above the foliage of palmate, deeply-lobed, dark green leaves. Native to the mountains of southern and central Europe, Christmas Roses open around Christmastime in warm winter areas, and in early spring in cooler winter regions. Perfect to brighten the shade garden, Helleborus niger is also a very popular cut flower!

  • Grows in a bushy, upright clump, up to 8-12 in. tall (20-30 cm) and 12-18 in. across (30-45 cm). This plant may self-seed sparingly in satisfactory growing conditions.
  • Performs best in part shade in fertile, humus-rich, moist, neutral to alkaline, well-drained soils. Avoid soils prone to drying out or staying wet.
  • Select a sheltered site to protect your hellebores from cold winter winds.
  • Easy to grow, this plant is a welcomed addition to shady borders, containers, under trees or large shrubs, woodland gardens, or cottage gardens. Plant in groups for the best visual impact.
  • Hellebore flowers provide valuable nectar for early pollinators. Hellebore is not generally a plant that deer or other animals seek out to eat, but if other food sources are scarce, they may come along and make a meal out of your Hellebore.
  • No serious pest or disease issues. Keep an eye out for aphids, snails, hellebore leaf spot, and hellebore black death.
  • Remove faded flower stems (unless you require seed) to promote new growth and for a neat appearance.
  • Propagate by seed in pots in a cold frame as soon as seed is ripe or propagate by division after flowering in early spring or late summer.

Toxicity: Christmas Rose is toxic to humans, cats, dogs, and horses. Contact with its sap can cause minor, short-lived skin irritation. Ingesting large quantities may lead to burning sensations in the mouth and throat, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and nervous system symptoms like depression. Toxic compounds include cardiac glycosides, saponins, and protoanemonin. All parts—bark, flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, sap, seeds, and stems—contain these harmful substances. Caution is necessary when handling this plant. Poisonous flowers and plants: Identifying toxic risks around you

How to Plant, Grow and Care for Hellebore


Learn how to grow lush, healthy, and gorgeous Hellebores

Requirements

Hardiness 3 - 8
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Ranunculaceae
Genus Helleborus
Common names Christmas Rose, Hellebore, lenten Rose
Exposure Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early), Winter
Height 8" - 1' (20cm - 30cm)
Spread 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 18" (50cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam
Soil pH Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Full Shade, Deer, Rabbit
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
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Helleborus (Hellebore)
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Helleborus Molly’s White (Hellebore)
Helleborus x nigercors ‘Honeyhill Joy’ (Hellebore)
Helleborus x ballardiae ‘HGC Merlin’ (Hellebore)
Helleborus ‘Dark and Handsome’ (Hellebore)
Helleborus ‘Wedding Crasher’ (Hellebore)
Helleborus ‘Shotgun Wedding’ (Hellebore)

Recommended Companion Plants

Eranthis hyemalis (Winter Aconite)
Heuchera ‘Caramel’ (Coral Bells)
Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’ (Early Crocus)
Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrop)
Narcissus ‘Thalia’ (Triandrus Daffodils)
Brunnera macrophylla (Siberian Bugloss)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

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Helleborus (Hellebore)
Create a Garden with Great Winter Interest
How to Plant, Grow and Care for Hellebore
30 Stunning Winter Flowers to Brighten Your Garden and Home
Plant Combination Ideas with Hellebores
Favorite Hellebores for your Winter and Spring Garden
Great Bulbs and Perennials as Companion Plants for Azaleas and Rhododendrons
Best Companion Plants for Camellias
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 3 - 8
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Ranunculaceae
Genus Helleborus
Common names Christmas Rose, Hellebore, lenten Rose
Exposure Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early), Winter
Height 8" - 1' (20cm - 30cm)
Spread 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 18" (50cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam
Soil pH Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Full Shade, Deer, Rabbit
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Helleborus (Hellebore)
Not sure which Helleborus (Hellebore) to pick?
Compare Now

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