Helleborus

( hel - leb - BOH - rus )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Hellebore, these interesting flowering perennial plants need partial to full shade conditions and varying water needs, depending on the species. All parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested, so take care when planting these in your yard if you have children or pets wandering around. They bloom in winter and spring, and have great leathery foliage. Bloom colors include green, red, pink, purple and yellow and turn green when mature. Flowers are great when included in arrangements. These plants can be massed under trees or in beds. Deer and rabbits do not bother them. 

Helleborus Species and Varietals

The genus Helleborus includes 20 species and is a member of the plant family Ranunculaceae. The best growing zones for Hellebore vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Helleborus argutifolius (Corsican Hellebore, Holly-Leaved Hellebore)
This species grows best in zones 3b-9 and 14-24 and is native to Corsica, Sardinia. Can be erect or sprawling, with blue-green leaves. Flowers are pale green. Needs moderate water. Varieties include 'Janet Stames' (compact, with white-marbled leaves that are blushed with pink when new), 'Pacific Frost' (variegated, compact variety), and 'Silver Lace' (blue-grey leaves with netted silver pattern).
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Helleborus x ballardiae
This species is a hybrid that grows best in zones 3-7 and 14-24 and reaches 1.5 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Stems are red. This species needs regular water. Varietals include 'Cinnamon Snow' (with dark green leaves and white flowers with rose and rust tones) and 'Pink Frost' (grey-green leaves with silver veining with pale pink to rose blooms).

Helleborus cyclophyllus (Greek Hellebore)
This perennial is native to Albania, Greece, Bulgaria, and Yugoslavia. It produces greenish to yellow-green flowers atop leafless green stalks, and when in bloom reaches between 16 and 22 inches tall.

​Helleborus x ericsmithii
A hybrid that grows best in zones 2-9, 14-24 and reaches 1.5 feet tall and just as wide with dark green leaves veined with pale green. Flowers appear in large sprays and can be pink or white. Needs regular water.

​Helleborus foetidus (Bear's Foot Hellebore, Stinking Hellebore, Dungwort, Setterwort, Bear's Foot)
Native to western and central Europe, this species grows best in zones 2b-9 and 14-24. Gets 2.5 feet tall and wide and has dark green leaves. Flowers are light green and have purple-red edges. Can tolerate sun if in a cool, humid climate and will self-sow freely where conditions are favorable. Needs moderate water. Varieties in the Wester Flisk Group have foliage infused with purple-red, and 'Red Silver' has red stems with a silver sheen with red-edged green flowers.
Helleborus x hybridus
This species grows best in zones 2b-10 and 14-24. They need moderate to regular water and have a variety of flower colors. See the groups and varietals below.
Ballard's Group
Flowers come in a variety of colors.
Sunshine Group
White, Pink, Yellow, and Red flowers.
Royal Heritage Group
These plants have flowers in pink, purple and maroon or white.
Winter Queen Mix
​White, Pink, or Maroon flowers are sometimes spotted. 
Party Dress Group
Double blooms.​

Helleborus 'Ivory Prince'
This varietal grows best in zones 2-9 and 14-17. Gets to 1 foot tall and 1.5-2.5 feet wide, with ivory white flowers (hence the name) that take on pink and chartreuse tones as they mature. Needs regular water.

​Helleborus lividus
Can be grown in zone 5 if given adequate protection, and is normally grown in zones 6-9 and 14-24. Native to Majorca, this species gets to 1.5 feet tall and two times as wide. Leaves are purple underneath, veined on top, and flowers are pale green blushed with pink. Needs moderate amounts of water for best performance.

​Helleborus niger (Christmas Rose, Black Hellebore)
This plant grows best in zones 1-7 and 14-17, and is native to Europe. Leaves are dark green and white flowers bloom in singles or in groups of two or three per stem. Flowers will blush pink with age. This species needs alkaline soil and regular waterings, and needs more shade than other species. Large-flowered varieties include 'White Magic' and 'Potter's Wheel'.

​Helleborus orientalis (Lenten Rose)
​This species grows best in zones 2b-10 and 14-24 and is native to Greece, Turkey and the Caucasus. Flower stems reach a foot tall and blooms come in white, pink, purple, cream, and green. This species is easy to transplant and varies widely in appearance. It will self sow and needs moderate to regular water.

​Helleborus x sternii
This species of Hellebore grows best in zones 4-9 and 14-24. Leaves are blue-green and is variegated with white or cream. Blooms are green and blushed with pink. The plant can reach a foot and a half tall and wide. it needs moderate water. Varieties include 'Boughton Beauty' (with silvery leaves that have pink stems) and those in the Blackthorn Group (with veined leaves and purple stems with purple flowers).

Helleborus thibetanus (Tibetan Hellebore)
This perennial forms a rhizome and a basal clump of leaves. Light pink flowers are papery and cup-shaped, blooming in springtime through the middle of summer.

Helleborus viridis (Green Hellebore, Bastard Hellebore, Bear's Foot, Boar's Foot)
This species is native to central and western Europe, and produces green flowers. Blooms appear in springtime (usually between February and April) and plants reach two feet tall at maturity.

Caring for Helleborus

Hellebore likes to be planted in well-draining soil amended with organic compost that is somewhat alkaline, though they will also do well in neutral or slightly acidic conditions. Feed with fertilizer twice a year. They do not like being transplanted. They can, and most will, self-sow freely, producing volunteer seedlings that can be transplanted in springtime. 

Propagation

Problems and Pests

Hellebore plants suffer from the following pests and diseases:
  • Hellebore Leaf Miner
For more information on these pests and problems, see the following links:
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Gallery

Camellias are great candidates to be grown as container plants on your patio.
A field of thea sinensis
Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'

Videos

A video all about growing camellias successfully
Propagating camellias

Resources

Wikipedia: Hellebore
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 357-358, Helleborus
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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