BBC Gardeners' World

Plant details

• Common Name: Corsican hellebore
• Genus: Helleborus
• Species: argutifolius
• Skill Level: experienced
• Exposure: full sun, partial shade
• Hardiness: hardy
• Soil type: acidic, chalky/alkaline, clay/heavy, dry, well-drained/light
• Height: 0.75m
• Spread: 0.6m
• Time to divide plants: April to May

This species has flowers the colour of 'Granny Smith' apples, set against spiny, evergreen foliage. The flowers appear in winter, and remain on the plants for a long time. Like all hellebores, they dislike being moved once established, so should not be divided. Given the right conditions, they will self-seed quite sufficiently to provide replacements. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it the Award of Garden Merit (AGM).