Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) puts on a show
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Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger).
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It is hard to imagine flowers blooming outdoors in February, but the Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) delights gardeners with its charming pure white blooms that emerge from the plant even when frost and snow lie on the ground.
Most gardeners are familiar with Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis) and eagerly search out the newest introductions boasting double flowers, speckled petals and amazing colors. But don't neglect the austere beauty of the Christmas rose. Unlike most hellebores with nodding blooms, the snowy white flowers of the Christmas rose face outward, proudly posing for all to enjoy.
Hellebores' 2-inch blooms are unusual in that sepals -- not petals -- put on the show. The five sepals surround a large cluster of yellow stamens and hide the numerous inconspicuous petals. The flowers can persist for two months or longer, depending on temperature. As the sepals mature, they take on rosy pink or green hues.
Seed pods form soon after pollination. By the time the seed matures, the sepals have faded to green and the seed pods are swollen. Remove the seed pods to encourage robust plants, or leave them alone and numerous seedlings will develop around the base of the plants.
Helleborus niger is hardy in zones 3 to 8 and typically grows 12 to 18 inches tall. Hellebores are divided into two groups: those with stemless foliage that arises from the rootstalk of the plant, and those that produce an above-ground stalk from which leaves develop. The Christmas rose falls into the stemless category, referred to as acaulescent. The smooth, dark blue-green leaves are leathery, palmately divided, and have serrations on the leaf margins. Often the evergreen foliage is borne on red stems.
Plants thrive in partial shade that is rich in organic matter. They are perfectly suited to a woodland garden and will develop into a lush ground cover over time. Unlike the Lenten rose, the Christmas rose is planted with the crown just below the surface of the soil. It typically grows in a limestone soil, but plants readily adapt to a neutral or slightly acidic soil. However, amending the area with an alkaline organic material such as mushroom manure is helpful. Plants will also benefit from an annual sprinkling of ground limestone. Helleborus niger is slow to mature but it will form large showy clumps that will remain vigorous for years. They are durable plants and will thrive with minimal maintenance.
First Published February 4, 2012 12:00 am
