Helleborus orientalis
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- hel-eh-BORE-us or-ee-en-TAH-liss
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Helleborus orientalis is easy to grow, requiring only a shady location and good, moist soil. They will do best where they receive winter sunlight but are protected from the wind. These beautiful harbingers of spring have interesting, nodding flowers and large, dark green leaves.
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. SKIN IRRITATION MINOR OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES.
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 landscapes:
- Shaded Slope Backyard Respite Landscape Dry Rock Stream Garden Shaded Slope Woodland Walk Shaded Slope Woodland Walk Four-Season Garden Border Garden- Pathway Small shade garden Entrance Statement, Fescue Grass Collector’s Garden Shaded Slope
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Royal Heritage'
wide range of colors - purple, pink, rose, light green with spotted or contrasting colors
- 'Royal Heritage'
- 'Royal Heritage'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Royal Heritage'
wide range of colors - purple, pink, rose, light green with spotted or contrasting colors
- 'Royal Heritage'
- 'Royal Heritage'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Helleborus
- Species:
- orientalis
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Asia Minor, Eurasia (Turkey, Caucasus)
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer resistant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
-
-
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:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- Clustered, green, fleshy capsules, long-beaked, surrounded by persistent sepals.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Beautiful harbingers of spring, with interesting, nodding solitary winter flowers, 2.5" wide and saucer shaped. 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.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Denticulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leathery, shiny, dark-green leaves palmately divided with 7-9 leaflets, edged with shallow teeth. Basal or cauline, palmately compound, coriaceous, glabrous; petiloes elongate, peltate; leaflets 3-9, irregularly toothed or serrate.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stout, rhizomatous or exposed.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
- Pollution
- Poor Soil
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Burning of mouth and throat, salivation, vomiting, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, nervous symptoms, depression; skin irritation after contact with cell sap
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Protoanemonin suspected
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Seeds
- Stems
