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Helleborus foetidus
Species
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: Species
- Height × spread: 18 to 24 in (45 to 60 cm) × 12 to 18 in (30 to 45 cm)
- Bloom window: February to April
- Color & flower form: Drooping green cups with pale margins and showy bracts
- Fragrance: 1 trace
- USDA hardiness: zones 5 to 9
- Breeder / Year / Origin: unknown
- Awards/registration: RHS Award of Garden Merit
- Pet safety: avoid
How it differs
- Airier stems and finer leaf texture than the typical hybrid Lenten rose.
- Tolerates leaner, drier soils better than many hellebores.
- Flower clusters are smaller but more numerous than large hybrid blooms.
Strengths
- Evergreen structure through winter.
- Early nectar source and widely noted for pollinator value.
- Deer browsing is uncommon.
Care in one minute
Grow in partial shade with protection from harsh winter wind.
Provide well drained, humus enriched soil; avoid waterlogging.
Water to establish then sparingly except in drought.
Remove spent flowering stems to refresh foliage.
Leave clumps undisturbed; divide only if needed.
Watch‑outs
- Not reliably hardy in colder parts of zone 5.
- Old stems can look tatty after bloom and benefit from removal.
- Leaf spot can mark foliage in damp weather.
Best uses (tags)
Provenance note
Native to western and central Europe. Cultivated for centuries for its distinctive foliage and late winter bloom.
References
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder: Helleborus foetidus
- RHS advice: Hellebore leaf spot
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