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Let's Grow The Hellebore or Christmas Rose Together


The Helleborus or Hellebore is for more than one reason a special plant. There are many plants that flower in winter or very early spring. The Helleborus does. Hellebore Orientalis

This family of plant is getting more and more attention from enthusiast all over the world. Meetings from Helleborus enthusiast are growing rapidly in numbers and no wonder.

The plant is a member of the Orientalis Hybrids or Lenten Rose. The most eye catching of the family are the Orientalis Hybrids, with their white, pink or yellow flowers.

How Do We Grow This Early blooming Christmas or Lenten Rose


Growing healthy and strong Hybrids is a time consuming art of its own. This also reflects in the price you pay for it at your local florist during the Holliday Season. This is the real Christmas Rose.

Growing the HelleboreIf you like a challenge, and start an Helleborus this summer, I suggest you start with a less demanding variety.

For example  you could begin with the H. Niger, a variety that will grow to about 12 inches. Or if you like a more dominant variety try the Argutifolus.

This cultivar will grow to about 30 inches, is blooming between February and April.

The family member Foetidus or sometimes called the Stinking Hellebore also grows to about 30 Inches and is known for its lime-green flowers that last for several moth’s.

A Very Respectful and Noble The Stinking Hellebore


The name Stinking might suggest otherwise but this is a very respectful plant that received the prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM) from the British Royal Horticultural Society. Orientalis

You can expect the first flowers by the end of January.  All family members bloom several month’s and look wonderful later on in spring when surrounded by prim roses, violets and dwarf narcissus.

The Helleborus likes a moist soil. Off course well drained, but since we are all into mulching and composting that will be trouble free. It also prefers a Ph between 6.5 – 7 and doesn’t need a lot of light.

Compost and mulch well and the plants grow into large clumps with a huge amount of flowers. Be careful if you have a really wet season, root rot can be a problem then. Make sure that your drainage is even better under such conditions.

To me it looks like a great challenge that I’m going to follow through on. It would be nice to have more readers join and share experiences in our blog.

Seeds are a bit hard to come by, but I have some friends at the Botanical Gardens who are willing to help if neccesary

Take the Hellebore Challenge,  contact me and together we can make this a great success

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