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Helleborus niger

Helleborus niger

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Christmas rosePerennial, EvergreenFamily: Ranunculaceae

Height: 45cmSpread: 45cm
Hardy

Attractive to wildlife

Flower colour:

White

Foliage colour:

Green

Position

Sun Exposure:

Dappled shade, full shade, full sun, partial shade

Aspect:

East facing, north facing, south facing, west facing

Position in Border:

Front

Soil

Prefers rich soil:

Acidic / Chalky / Alkaline / Clay / Heavy / Moist / Well Drained / Light / Sandy

The Christmas rose, Helleborus niger, bears large, round, white flat-faced flowers above low-growing mounds of leathery, deep green foliage. It's perfect for growing at the front of a partially shaded border and makes an excellent cut flower – simply float the blooms in a bowl of water to display them.

For best results grow Helleborus niger in moist but well-drained soil in partial shade. Mulch annually with well-rotted compost or manure, and cut back the old leaves as flowers and new foliage appear. Like all hellebores, Helleborus niger dislikes being moved once established, so should not be divided. Given the right conditions, it will self-seed quite sufficiently to provide replacements.

Explore other varieties of Helleborus:

Helleborus 'Early Purple Group' - has red-tinged foliage and bears large, cup-shaped, nodding, plum-purple flowers with contrasting yellow stamens
Helleborus foetidus 'Wester Flisk Group' - has more finely divided, elegant foliage than most hellebores, and its leaves, stems and lime green flowers are suffused with maroon colouring
Helleborus orientalis 'Smokey Blue' - a hybrid hellebore, bearing nodding or outward-facing, saucer-shaped, flowers, in smoky purple, from February onwards

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Helleborus ‘Niger’ and wildlife

Helleborus ‘Niger’ is known for attracting bees. It has nectar/pollen rich flowers.

Is known to attract Bees

Bees

Is not known to attract Beneficial insects

Beneficial insects

Is not known to attract Birds

Birds

Is not known to attract Butterflies/Moths

Butterflies/Moths

Is not known to attract Other pollinators

Other pollinators

Is Helleborus ‘Niger’ poisonous?

Helleborus ‘Niger’ can be toxic.

Toxic to:

Is known to attract Cats

Cats

Is known to attract Dogs

Dogs

Is known to attract Horses

Horses

Is known to attract People

People

No reported toxicity to:

Is not known to attract Birds

Birds

Is not known to attract Livestock

Livestock