Helleborus niger (Christmas Rose)

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