Botanical Name: Helleborus niger
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Common Name: Christmas Rose  
Plant photo of: Helleborus niger
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Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Perennial

 

Height Range

Under 1'

 

Flower Color

Pink, White

 

Flower Season

Winter, Spring

 

Leaf Color

Dark Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Shade

 

Water

Medium

 

Growth Rate

Moderate, Slow

 

Soil Type

Loam

 

Soil Condition

Rich, Well-drained, Moist

 

Soil pH

Acid, Neutral

 

Adverse Factors

Poisonous

Design Styles

English Cottage, Meadow, Water Garden, Wetlands, Woodland

 

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers

 

Seasonal Interest

Winter, Spring

 

Location Uses

Perennial Border, Patio, Raised Planter, Walkways

 

Special Uses

Container, Cut Flowers, Mass Planting

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer:
  • Description

  • Notes

This perennial will grow less than 1' tall and has dark green leaves with flowers that are white colored with a tinge of pink and bloom in winter and spring. It prefers partial shade and would really like to be planted under a deciduous tree so it can receive sun during the summer. It needs to be protected from wind. Plant in fertile, well draining, moist soil. Use generous amount of compost for planting and for refreshing during spring. Roots are poisonous.
Grow in well drained, loamy to coarse soil in part shade to part sun; hellebore is not very heat tolerant so be certain that it receives shade during the hottest part of the day in the summer months. Plant where it will receive some protection from drying winter winds. Though evergreen, some leaves may look tatty after our long winters, and so snip them off near the base of the plant for a tidy appearance. though they appreciate regular watering, when in a part sun setting with well amended soil they can be remarkably drought tolerant. Visit hellebores.org for more information.