About
This deciduous herbaceous perennial, up to 30cm high, with green leaves, the young leaves sometimes with coppery tints and the leaflets divided into ten to fourteen finely-serrated segments. Nodding flowers appear from late winter to spring; they are cone- to cup-shaped, 4-5.5cm across, green and sometimes tinted with purple on the outsides, and with a scent that is sometimes said to be reminiscent of Ribes sanguineum.
About the genus
Helleborus can be rhizomatous, herbaceous or semi-evergreen perennials forming a clump of pedate basal leaves, or evergreen with erect, leafy stems. Large, bowl-shaped flowers are borne in loose clusters in late winter or spring
Growing conditions
SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam
Soil pHAlkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectEast-facing, South-facing, North-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden
FragranceFlower
ToxicityHarmful if eaten, skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten, skin irritant. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Care notes
CultivationGrow in fertile, moisture-retentive, humus-rich but very well-drained soil which is preferably alkaline, in light dappled shade and with shelter from strong, cold winds, and mulch every autumn with leaf mould, chipped bark or other organic matter; for more advice, see hellebore cultivation
PruningRemove old leaves to help prevent hellebore leaf spot; old faded flower stems can be deadheaded, but if they are left the plants will self-seed
PropagationPropagate by seed (to avoid unwanted hybrids, allow seeding only if grown away from other hellebores) or by division of large clumps in early spring, watering well until they are established
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to hellebore aphid, hellebore leaf miner and snails
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to hellebore black death, hellebore leaf spot, downy mildews, grey moulds (botrytis), smuts, and virus diseases