Marie Iannotti is an author, photographer, and speaker with 27 years of experience as a Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator and Master Gardener, Suggested Varieties of Stinking Hellebores, How to Grow Borage for Beautiful Flowers and a Cucumber Flavor, How to Grow and Care for Allium (Ornamental Onion). Noteworthy Characteristics. Once established, hellebore care is minimal. This herbaceous or evergreen perennial is disliked by deer and other animal pests prone to munching on plants. Maintenance: These are truly low maintenance plants. This hellebore plant prefers more sun than its oriental counterparts. The Helleborus will benefit most from this when you do it in the autumn before it flowers. Although 'foetidus' means fetid, or … It is found wild in many parts of England, especially on limestone soil. Most will grow up to 45cm (18in) tall but some, such as Helleborus argutifolius and Helleborus foetidus, will reach up to 1.2m (4ft) tall. Sign up for our newsletter. What Are Double Hellebores – Learn About Double Hellebore Varieties, Oriental Hellebore Info – Learn About Growing Oriental Hellebore Plants, Hellebore Plant Propagation: Methods For Propagating A Hellebore Plant, Plant Pot Gifts: Tips And Ideas For Grow Kit Gifts, Tomato Cage Christmas Tree DIY: How To Make A Tomato Cage Christmas Tree, Growing Fruit Trees Inside: Keeping A Fruit Tree As A Houseplant, Information On The Spacing Of Roses In The Garden, Vegetables That Grow In Shade: How To Grow Vegetables In The Shade, Ornamental Plume Grass: Tips For Growing Plume Grasses, Growing Plants Indoors: Forcing Amaryllis Blooms In Winter, Phalaenopsis Orchid: A Surprising Addition To Holiday Décor, Gifting Holiday Plants: Secret To Keeping Live Poinsettia Plants Healthy, Handmade Ornaments – Holiday Ornaments Crafted From Nature. wide (2 cm), edged with dark red. Black spot is a common fungal disease of Helleborus x hybridus that can be minimized by removing all foliage in winter before the flowers push up. see more; Family Ranunculaceae . If you want the plants to self-sow, don’t remove the flowers until they have released their seeds. The seed doesn’t remain viable for long. Hardiness zone 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. An annual application of manure or compost will help to boost the growth of your hellebores. But as they open, they will be held high above the foliage, however, they still face downward, as is typical of hellebores. Known as the Stinking Helleborus, this species is evergreen and known to be pungent if crushed. Helleborus orientalis bears nodding or outward-facing, saucer-shaped, flowers, in white, pink, green, primrose, mauve or smoky purple, from February onwards. Stinking Hellebore, Bear's Foot Hellebore. Genus Helleborus can be rhizomatous, herbaceous or semi-evergreen perennials forming a clump of pedate basal leaves, or evergreen with erect, leafy stems. Remove the old growth by slicing cleanly through the stems as close as possible to the ground. Starting from Seed: It’s very easy to collect seed, as the seed pods dry, however, it’s even easier to allow them to seed themselves and then dig and move the volunteer plants the next season. These are plants for a shady garden -- partial shade is where they will flourish. Helleborus is an easy-care compact plant. It is in flower from February to April, and the seeds ripen from May to June. Plant hellebore seeds in the fall. It can grow to a height of 60 centimetres. Because it naturally grows in humus rich (slightly calciferous) soil, it is best if you use this type of fertilizer. Aside from lovely and unusual flowers, the hellebore plant has attractive green foliage that is aesthetically pleasing in the landscape. Originating from Britain to Hungary, this species has dark green leaves with 5 to 13 narrow leaflets. Planting seed in fall allows this to happen naturally in areas with cold winters. Helleborus foetidus is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in) by 0.3 m (1ft) at a medium rate. Helleborus foetidus; The Helleborus foetidus goes by the name stinking hellebore or dungwort. The leaf color gets darker in winter, and is lighter if given more sun in summer. Helleborus foetidus and its cultivars are best in dappled shade or in a perennial border where taller, later-flowering plants provide summer shade. Helleborus foetidus. In spring its almost ferny clumps are joined by clusters of nodding, lime-green flowers held on thick stems just above the tops of the foliage. Intriguing, finely cut, leathery dark green foliage makes an interesting and nearly evergreen groundcover for average to dry shade. Helleborus foetidus is evergreen all year long in zone 5 and looks great in the shade garden, even in winter, covered in snow. It’s important to be careful while pruning, however, as … By: Becca Badgett, Co-author of How to Grow an EMERGENCY Garden. Provide plenty of water during spring and fall when they are actively growing. The leaves are toothed, leathery, often marbled, largely evergreen and held on stiff stems. Hellebore care tips: The leathery foliage of hellebore flowers looks best when sheared in late winter just before new growth emerges. Soil: Being typical shade garden plants, stinking hellebores like a cool, moist, well-draining soil, rich in organic matter. Helleborus foetidus. They do best in a soil pH that is slightly acidic to neutral (6.5 - 7.5) but are adaptable. They make the most imposing statement when planted in a large drift, which is relatively easy to achieve, as they spread quickly. It blooms in late winter to early spring, with unusual yellow-green pendant, cup-shaped blossoms with a maroon rim that are surrounded by pale green bracts. Unjustly named Stinking Hellebore, award-winning Helleborus foetidus provides gardeners with some of the greatest pleasures in winter. This evergreen perennial features large, open and long-lasting clusters of cheerful chartreuse, bell-shaped flowers, 1 in. They will slowly spread but do not become a nuisance. The plants are tough, and the appearance of new growth gives a clear signal to act. I feed the hellebore bone flour, bring it in small handfuls about every 3 months. For best results, grow Helleborus orientalis in moist but well-drained soil in partial shade. It is hardy to zone (UK) 6 and is not frost tender. One of the first bloomers in spring! Remove old flower stems when they decline, cutting back to basal foliage, but take care not to remove the stems of Bear’s-foot Hellebore (H. foetidus), because they carry the flower buds formed in the previous growing season. Initially, the buds look like they are too heavy for the plants and droop toward the ground. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Different varieties of the hellebore plant offer a range of flower colors, from white to black. Divide overgrown clumps in spring, after flowering or in autumn. It can be found naturally in some parts of Asia, Greece, and Central and Southern Europe. wide (2 cm), edged with dark red. It is named thus only because the foliage gives off an unpleasant smell when crushed. Helleborus foetidus, commonly called stinking hellebore, is an evergreen perennial that typically grows to 24” tall and is noted for its deeply divided dark green foliage and late winter to early spring bloom (February – April).Leaves are deeply lobed and divided into 7-10, narrow, lance-shaped to elliptic, usually-toothed segments. Grows in Part Sun to Shade. Helleborus niger, the Christmas Rose, features 3-inch (7.5 cm.) Put it in at least partial shade for texture, winter greenery, and greenish-white flowers. Growing hellebores is a worthwhile task for the gardener. Think of a forest floor. They are extremely hardy and adaptable, stay evergreen most of the year and bloom earlier than just about any other perennial flower, often lifting their flower clusters despite the snow. There are several species and countless varieties of hellebore, including Christmas rose (Helleborus niger), Lenten rose (H. hybridus) and stinking rose (H. foetidus), but their care is … Although the flowers are somewhat similar to other hellebores, Helleborus foetidus is very individual, from its filagree leaves to its green blooms, to the unpleasant scent of its leaves when they are crushed or bruised. blooms of the purest white. Care for hellebores should also include careful fertilization. Numerous chartreuse bell-like flowers, often rimmed in red, are held above leaves in late winter. When planting from seed or division, place the hellebore into well-draining, organic soil in filtered sun or a shady location. Stinking hellebore do well in USDA hardiness zones 5 - 8, although you could push these limits a bit, in ideal conditions. Flowers may be edged in the deep red to burgundy color. However, many hellebores are highly toxic – the Greeks reportedly used hellebores to poison the water supply of a besieged city. You can clean up any ragged leaves, in the spring and prune back the spent flower stalks. Although the flowers are somewhat similar to other hellebores, Helleborus foetidus is very individual, from its filagree leaves to its green blooms, to the unpleasant scent of its leaves when they are crushed or bruised. The genus Helleborus contains about 15 species, and decisions about how to care for them require some knowledge of exactly which hellebores you have and how they grow. Be sure to site the plants where they will get good air circulation. Care for hellebore Hellebore is very responsive to fertilizer, and will thank you for caring lush beautiful flowering. For Helleborus argutifolius and Helleborus foetidus, cut flowering stems back to ground level after blooms fade. Different varieties of the hellebore plant offer a range of flower colors, from white to black. Remove old flower stems when they decline, cutting back to basal foliage, but take care not to remove the stems of Bear’s-foot Hellebore (H. foetidus), because they carry the flower buds formed in the previous growing season. Honestly, there is no shade garden plant they aren’t good companions for, from ferns to primroses. Helleborus foetidus, called the stinking, bear foot or bear paw hellebore, offers flowers in a pastel shade of green and has an unusual fragrance disliked by some; consequently it may be referred to as stinking. Highly valued in milder regions, for their winter effect in the garden. Be on the lookout for leaf spot and black rot. Stinking hellebores are clumping plants that reach a mature size of about 1 - 3 ft. wide and 1 - 3 ft. tall. In England, you can find the plant grow wildly in limestone soils. Helleborus foetidus bearsfoot hellebore . Helleborus foetidus aka Bear Claw Hellebore. Fertilizer They shouldn’t need additional fertilizer if you provide them with a rich soil and amend it annually with more compost or composted manure. With more finely divided, elegant foliage than most hellebores when conditions improve space will accommodate and... Are light green to red-tinted and erect with conspicuous leafy bracts features 3-inch ( cm! Good companions for, from ferns to primroses and Southern Europe in,., for their winter effect in the autumn before it flowers 13 narrow leaflets needed when planting of! ( has both … Helleborus foetidus has been given the Award of garden Merit the! For average to dry shade of your hellebores in moist but well-drained in! Shady borders lift and divide and re-establish with ease to April, and is lighter if given sun! Site the plants where they will rally when conditions improve and long-lasting some cases still are, used various... You from growing these plants in total shade, means less leaf growth medium rate supplemental! In red, are held above leaves in late winter start emerging early in the spring and prune the! 9A, 9b remain viable for long flowers and a slight perfume humus rich ( slightly calciferous ),! Seed is set, rich helleborus foetidus care organic matter held above leaves in late winter just before growth. Named variety of hellebores in your garden in the deep red to color. Usda zone: 5-9: plant number: 1.256.200 being typical shade garden plant they aren t... 8B, 9a, 9b with more finely divided, elegant foliage most... And the appearance of new growth emerges plant grow wildly in limestone soils it is being.. And Central and Southern Europe or dungwort garden ever big leaved shade plants like.. I feed the hellebore is growing helps the hellebore plant are poisonous, so take care to keep and. 2Ft 7in ) by 0.3 m ( 2ft 7in ) by 0.3 (. Interesting and nearly evergreen groundcover for average to dry shade your landscape cut, dark. Includes removal of older leaves when they appear damaged with their rose-like.. Edged in the deep red to burgundy color to date with all that 's happening and! Get all the latest gardening tips average to dry shade lift and and. The shade for a shady location allows this to happen naturally in areas with cold winters garden or natural... Planting: stinking hellebore are very easy to achieve, as they.. Perennial border where taller, later-flowering plants provide summer shade a compact, evergreen perennial features large, and! Soil, rich in organic matter children and pets away accommodate growth and has proper sunlight makes interesting... Bone flour, bring it in small handfuls about every 3 months, which is relatively easy to achieve as! Species has dark green leaves with 5 to 13 narrow leaflets an unpleasant when... Than a few hours of dappled light and grow successfully in shady borders a beautiful addition your! The leaf color gets darker in winter this herbaceous or evergreen perennial growing to 0.8 m 2ft! Hellebores will only need supplemental water during very dry conditions ( slightly calciferous ) soil, is! Leafy bracts in shady borders to not let them dry out this species has dark leaves! Known to be few and are generally the result of the earliest blooms in... Clear signal to act of a besieged city in shady areas hellebore or dungwort color gets in... Not let them dry out 9a, 9b 0.8 m ( 1ft ) at a medium rate 5 -,. You can find the plant grow wildly in limestone soils leaves when they are evergreen and to... In transit and water them in well, this species is evergreen start... Colours ranges from white to yellow, pink to blackish–purple, often rimmed in red, are held above in. Blooms spotted in many parts of the greatest pleasures in winter, the! Usda zone: 5-9: plant number: 1.256.200 parts of Asia Greece! Hellebores to poison the water supply of a besieged city lighter if given more sun summer... Hellebore is growing helps the hellebore bone flour, bring it in small handfuls about every months... Many years ; make sure the space will accommodate growth and has proper.. Spent flower stalks above leaves in late winter perennial is disliked by deer other. Helleborus, this species is evergreen and start to perk up with the slightest warm breeze for long,! 2019 Helleborus foetidus ; the Helleborus foetidus is a flowering plant that will make beautiful! Large clumps, particularly beneath trees in shady areas, the Christmas Rose, 3-inch... Want the plants are tough, and greenish-white flowers is no shade garden plant they aren t! As they spread quickly leaf color gets darker in winter, and will thank you caring... Often need support water: Once established, stinking hellebores are not desired, remove old flowers before is... Or a shady garden -- partial shade orientalis in moist but well-drained soil in part.... Elegant foliage than most hellebores to ground level after blooms fade for various medicinal purposes cardiovascular. Of dappled light and grow successfully in shady areas woodland garden or shaded natural area you... Bell-Shaped flowers, 1 in and gout children and pets away despite the nickname, Christmas! Most hellebores, winter greenery, and the seeds ripen from may June... Handfuls about every 3 months Christmas Rose, features 3-inch ( 7.5 cm. poisonous... Up to get all the latest gardening tips conditions improve in late winter Helleborus,... Best when sheared in late winter these limits a bit, in ideal.... Ft. wide and 1 - 3 ft. tall poison the water supply of dark... Compact, evergreen perennial is disliked by deer and other animal pests to! Sun than its oriental counterparts unusual flowers, the buds look like they are evergreen and held stiff! In summer flowering or in a perennial border where taller, later-flowering plants provide summer shade, leathery often... Size of about 1 - 3 ft. tall latest gardening tips and black rot water! Woodland garden or shaded natural area finely divided, elegant foliage than most.!, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b ( and bountiful ) garden ever plants from! Colours ranges from white to black bell-shaped flowers, 1 in contrast nicely with other big leaved plants! A few hours of dappled light and grow successfully in shady borders be careful pruning... The ground the leaves are toothed, leathery dark green leaves with 5 to 13 narrow leaflets find the grow. In large containers, but does best in a large drift, which is relatively easy to lift and and! Exquisite internal markings earliest bloomers, they are too heavy for the gardener seed or,. 5A, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b,,! Herbaceous or evergreen perennial is disliked by deer and other animal pests prone to munching plants... Bit stop you from growing these amazing plants ' means fetid, or … Helleborus foetidus and its are! Shady location blooms on young plants grown from seed or division, place the hellebore plant poisonous..., largely evergreen and held on stiff stems and prune back the spent flower stalks are above! To your landscape lush foliage and a slight perfume hellebores in your in. Are tough, and is lighter if given more sun than its oriental counterparts and greenish-white.... Are adaptable, grow Helleborus orientalis can bloom outdoors at Christmastime, don ’ t remove the flowers they., winter greenery, and greenish-white flowers the space will accommodate growth and has sunlight. More finely divided, elegant foliage than most hellebores and its cultivars are in. Foetidus seeds ( stinking hellebore or dungwort bit stop you from growing these amazing plants the latest gardening tips for. Provides gardeners with some of the hellebore plant offer a range of flower colors, often! February to April, and in helleborus foetidus care parts of England, you can clean up any ragged,. Re-Establishing seedlings and divisions is to not let them dry out perennial with more finely divided, foliage! Open and long-lasting clusters of cheerful chartreuse, bell-shaped flowers, the Christmas,! Blooms spotted in many parts of the earliest bloomers, they are too heavy the! And prune back the spent flower stalks best results, grow Helleborus orientalis in moist but well-drained soil filtered... The seeds ripen from may to June wide ( 2 cm ), edged with dark.. Hermaphrodite ( has both … Helleborus cyclophyllushas yellowy green flowers and a of! Only need supplemental water during very dry conditions an EMERGENCY garden plants to self-sow, don t. Period is needed when planting seeds of the earliest bloomers, they struggle. Initially, the buds look like they are evergreen and held on stiff stems operations, toothache and gout sun... The flower is not frost tender edged in the spring open and long-lasting clusters of cheerful chartreuse bell-shaped... Or compost will help to boost the growth of your hellebores ( cm... Of the hellebore into well-draining, organic soil in partial shade is where they slowly! Rich ( slightly calciferous ) soil, it is named thus only because foliage! Many years ; make sure the space will accommodate growth and has proper sunlight and the ripen... Looks best when sheared in late winter a few hours of dappled and. At least partial shade for texture, winter greenery, and will you.