Hellebore 'Christmas Rose'

Prefers sun but tolerates shade. prefers neutral to alkaline soil but is highly adaptable.
Snip off faded flower heads if seed is not needed
Can be divided in late summer

Christmas Rose likes a position of partial sun and remember to apply water fairly sparingly. Keep in mind when planting that Christmas Rose is thought of as very hardy, so this plant will tend to survive through freezing conditions. Planting Christmas Rose in loamy, sandy and clay soil with a ph of between 6.0 and 8.0 is ideal for as it does best in weakly acidic soil to weakly alkaline soil.

Grows easily from seed planted fresh in the summer. Grow on in a sheltered position for germination in the following early spring.

Sow 0.39 inches (1.0 cm) deep with a guideline distance of 0.78 inches (2.0 cm). Soil temperature should be kept higher than 5°C / 41°F to ensure good germination.

Plant out at the end of the first summer into the flowering position. Choose a semi shade spot in deep humus rich soil well drained but not dry

As Christmas Rose is very hardy, ensure temperatures are mild enough to plant out - wait until after your last frost date to be on the safe side.

¹ In former times Helleborus was used mainly as a heart remedy and for diuretic effects. But people knew about the toxicity of Helleborus; there was a nice saying in the 16th century: “3 Tropfen machen rot, 10 Tropfen machen tot” (three drops will reddish your cheek, 10 drops will bring you death).

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