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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | White | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter | White | Green |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Semi evergreen
- Habit
- Bushy
- Potentially harmful
- Harmful 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
- 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
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Often forced for earlier flowering and sold for indoor or outdoor Christmas display. Place in a cool place indoors and after flowering gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions before planting out in the garden. Thrives in neutral to alkaline soils that are moist, fertile and humus-rich. Partial shade is ideal but can tolerate full sun if the soil is not prone to drying out. Provide shelter from strong, cold winds. Mulch annually in autumn. For further details see hellebore cultivation
Propagation
Divide mature clumps in spring after flowering or in early autumn
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Coastal
- Cottage and informal garden
- Rock garden
- Patio and container plants
- Flower borders and beds
- Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Pruning
Remove faded or damaged foliage as the flowers appear
Pests
May be susceptible to hellebore aphid, hellebore leaf miner and snails
Diseases
May be susceptible to hellebore leaf spot and hellebore black death
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.