Hellebore Helleborus niger
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Hellebore:
- Phonetic Spelling
- hel-eh-BORE-us NY-jer
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Helleborus niger is a winter-blooming evergreen perennial with large, bowl-shaped, white flowers with yellow stamens. They are often called Christmas roses because they bloom around Christmas in warmer regions and in early spring in cooler areas. They are an excellent cut flower and are attractive when set floating in a bowl of water.
The scientific name comes from the Greek words 'helein', meaning injures, and 'bora', meaning food, referring to the toxic properties when the plant is eaten. The specific name 'niger', meaning black, refers to the color of the roots.
Quick ID Hints:
- Flowers nodding, petaloid sepals
- Short plant with stiff, large, evergreen leaves
- Leaves are palmately divided into many leaflets
- Flower center of numerous stamens outlined by tubular nectaries, or fleshy , beaked capsules
Blooms in late winter to very early spring; utilized for borders or patios in protected, shady spots; poisonous leaves and roots- Greek 'helein'= to injure and 'bora'= food; excellent for long, winter blooming display.
Numerous hybrid selections and species available, often difficult to distinguished, misidentified in trade, and each callen lenten rose, a name historically associated with H. orientalis.
Prefers partial to full shade; prefers organic-enriched soil; intolerant of bright winter sun and high temperatures; Fungal diseases are main problem.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Double Fantasy'
Semi-double, outward-facing blooms on tall stems, with ruffled white petals - 'HGC Jacob'
Large, long-lasting white flowers which mature to green and are tinged with pink in colder climates
- 'Double Fantasy'
- 'Double Fantasy', 'HGC Jacob'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Double Fantasy'
Semi-double, outward-facing blooms on tall stems, with ruffled white petals - 'HGC Jacob'
Large, long-lasting white flowers which mature to green and are tinged with pink in colder climates
- 'Double Fantasy'
- 'Double Fantasy', 'HGC Jacob'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Helleborus
- Species:
- niger
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- alpine and open woodlands in central and southern Europe
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4b, 4a, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Clustered, green, fleshy capsules, long-beaked, surrounded by persistent sepals.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- solitary or 2-3, 5-parted, white becoming pink or purplish. A stalked cyme or panicle, terminal, bracteated, often nodding; bracts gigantic, leaf-like, dark green, entire to sparsely toothed, +/- lobed. 1-many, usually greenish, tinted gold or brown, pink or purple, cup or bowl-shaped, nodding, 3-4" dia; sepals 5, showy, pigmented, broadly ovate-elliptic; inner petal segments numerous, consisting of tubular nectaries, green to greenish-yellow, ephemeral; stamens numerous, anther yellow.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, palmately divided with 7-9 leaflets. Basal or cauline, palmately compound, coriaceous, glabrous; petiloes elongate, peltate; leaflets 3-9, irregularly toothed or serrate.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stout, rhizomatous or exposed.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heavy Shade
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. SKIN IRRITATION MINOR, OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Burning of mouth and throat, salivation, vomiting, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, nervous symptoms, depression. Skin irritation after contact with cell sap.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Cardiac glycosides, saponins, Protoanemonin
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems