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Croatian Hellebore Helleborus croaticus

Previously known as:

  • Helleborus torquatus
Phonetic Spelling
hel-eh-BORE-us kro-ah-TIH-kus
This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Croatian Hellebore is a bushy, clumping, evergreen, flowering perennial recently found in Croatia and is in the buttercup family. At maturity, it reaches 1 foot tall and blooms in winter to early spring with small cup-shaped flowers that are purple on the outside and green with purple veins inside. Blossoms usually appear on the tips of the plant's branched stems and the leaves are evergreen and dark green, glossy, leathery, deeply-lobed, and often toothed. The genus name comes from the Greek words bora meaning "food" and helein meaning "injures/destroys" in reference to the plant’s toxic leaves, stems and roots which are poisonous to humans if ingested. The species name reflects the plant's Croation origin.

Plant in average moist well-drained soil in an area where the plant can get some sun in winter and shade in the heat of the summer. Under deciduous trees work very well for this requirement. Plant where the plant's early blooms can be enjoyed when little else is blooming. The foliage is evergreen, but it may become scorched and tattered in extremely harsh winters. Cut back flowering stems after bloom to promote new foliage growth. Established plants can become congested, but can be divided in late summer to early fall. Deer and rabbits tend to avoid this plant. These plants can be grown in mass plantings in shady locations or where the clumps will slowly spread through self-seeding.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

No serious insect or disease problems. Crown rot and leaf spot are occasional problems. Leaves, stems and roots are poisonous.

More information on Helleborus.

See this plant in the following landscape:
A Sampling of Shade Gardens
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#purple flowers#green flowers#shade garden#broadleaf evergreen#low maintenance#spring flowers#winter interest#rabbit resistant#moist soil#well-drained soil#deer resistant#winter flowers#partial shade tolerant#HS302#poisonous if ingested#perennial
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#purple flowers#green flowers#shade garden#broadleaf evergreen#low maintenance#spring flowers#winter interest#rabbit resistant#moist soil#well-drained soil#deer resistant#winter flowers#partial shade tolerant#HS302#poisonous if ingested#perennial
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Helleborus
    Species:
    croaticus
    Family:
    Ranunculaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Croatia
    Distribution:
    Albania, Yugoslavia
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Deer and rabbit resistant
    Edibility:
    Toxic if ingested.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Multi-stemmed
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Solitary
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Winter
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Colored Sepals
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Pendant cup-shaped flowers that are purple on the outside and green with purple veining inside. Blooms February to March or April.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leathery
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Long-lasting
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Dentate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Evergreen dark green leaves divided into deeply-lobed, often toothed, lanceolate to elliptic segments.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Flowers appear on the tips of branched stems clad with evergreen dark green leaves.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Shade Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Specimen
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Rabbits
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Medium
    Poison Symptoms:
    Can cause illness if ingested. Both living and dried plants of all species of Helleborus are extremely poisonous. Plants contain a cardiac glycoside (helleborin), which acts directly on the heart muscle, causing convulsions, delirium.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    glycoside and saponin
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Leaves
    Sap/Juice