How to Plant and Grow Hellebore

The exquisite flowers of hellebores appear when there are not many other colors in the landscape, let alone in shady spots. This winter-hardy perennial blooms with bowl- or saucer-shaped flowers in white, shades of pink, yellow, or maroon for weeks on end. There are so many pretty varieties you'd be pressed for choice. The flowers remain on the plant for several months, even after the petals have fallen. The divided leaves rise on sturdy stems and may be serrated along the edges. Hellebore is resistant to deer and voles.

The plant is toxic to humans and pets.

Where to Plant Hellebore

Plant hellebores in a shady location with evenly moist, well-drained soil. The soil should be neutral to slightly alkaline.

Select an area where the hellebores are in full view during their long bloom time. As long as there is shade, plant them in the front of a border or along a walkway. Shady spots under evergreen trees are ideal. Keep in mind that under deciduous trees and shrubs, hellebores won’t be protected from the sun during the winter. Hellebores are especially attractive when planted in small groups or as a mass planting.

How and When to Plant Hellebore

Hellebores can be planted either in the spring or fall. In the fall, plant them at least a month before the ground freezes so that their roots have time to settle.

Dig a hole at least twice the size of the plant’s root ball and place the plant in the hole. Backfill it with original soil and tamp it down. Water thoroughly and regularly for the first month, or until the plant shows new growth, which indicates that it is getting established.

Space plants at least 15 inches apart.

Hellebore Care Tips

Hellebores are long-lived perennials that are low-maintenance and easy to care for.

Light

Hellebores need at least partial shade. Dappled sun, partial shade, and full shade are acceptable. The bright winter sun is detrimental to the plants so make sure that they are getting some shade even when surrounding plants have no leaves.

Soil and Water

The soil should be rich with lots of organic matter and well-draining, with a pH between 7.0 to 8.0. If your soil is very acidic, amend it with lime. Excellent drainage is a must, as hellebores struggle in soggy soil. 

Hellebores need regular watering until they are established. After that, they are fairly drought-tolerant but prosper when the soil is evenly moist. To maintain soil moisture, apply a 2-inch layer of mulch around the plants.

Temperature and Humidity

Hellebores are very hardy plants. Some varieties are more winter-hardy than others so make sure to select a type that fits your growing zone.

Extremely high summer temperatures and hot, arid climates are not suitable for hellebores.

Fertilizer

In the late winter or early spring, just as the new growth starts, fertilize the plants with a light application of balanced, slow-release fertilizer.

Pruning

When some or all of the evergreen foliage of hellebores tends to become unsightly in the early spring, remove it to make room for new growth. There is no need to remove the stems after flowering, they remain attractive even after the bloom. Remove them if they start to deteriorate.

Potting and Repotting Hellebore

Growing Hellebores in pots is not recommended for two reasons: in pots, the plant roots are not sufficiently insulated against heat in the summer and against cold in the winter.

Pests and Problems

Hellebores are generally free of serious pests and diseases. Slugs and snails like to feed on the plants. To deter them, use diatomaceous earth.

Especially in humid weather, fungal diseases may occur, though they usually won’t affect the overall health of the plant.

How to Propagate Hellebore

Propagating hellebores is not an easy feat for home gardeners. Nurseries often propagate hellebores from seed, however, germination is slow and it takes a plant four to five years to reach the flowering stage. Also, most hellebores are hybrids and their seeds won’t produce plants that are true to the parent. Some varieties are protected by plant patents so it is prohibited to propagate them in any form. Dividing hellebores the same way you divide other perennials is possible, however, even well-established, mature plants may be slow to recover.

Your best bet for propagating hellebore from your plants is to leave it up to chance and see if the plant reseeds itself, which it often does. In that case, carefully dig up the seedlings and replant them in another location. The result might not be true to the parent but it’s worth a try since it won’t require much effort on your part.

Types of Hellebore

Christmas Rose

Helleborus niger offers pristine, pure white flowers from late winter to early spring on purple-spotted
1-foot-tall stems. Its fingered evergreen leaves are leathery in texture. Zone 3-8

Hybrid Hellebores

Hellebores hybridize easily and numerous hellebore hybrids (Helleborus x hybridus) with superior qualities have been bred. They have nodding, bowl-shaped single or double flowers and come in a wide range of colors, from pure white to almost black, and some are speckled, spotted, and mottled on the inside. The flowers often turn green as they age. Popular varieties include ‘Anna’s Red’, ‘Wedding Party’, and ‘Honeymoon’. Zone 5-9

Lenten Rose

Helleborus orientalis has large, cup-shaped, rose-like nodding flowers ranging from white to pink to rose-purple. The plant starts to bloom in late winter and for an extended time into the spring. It grows in clumps 1 to 1.5 feet tall and wide. Zone 4-9

Hellebore Companion Plants

Hosta

Hosta has earned its spot in the hearts of gardeners—it's among the easiest plants to grow, as long as you have some shade and ample rainfall. Hostas vary from tiny plants suitable for troughs or rock gardens to massive 4-foot clumps with heart-shaped leaves almost 2 feet long that can be puckered, wavy-edged, white or green variegated, blue-gray, chartreuse, emerald-edged—the variations are virtually endless. This tough, shade-loving perennial blooms with white or purplish lavender funnel-shaped or flared flowers in summer. Zone 3-9

Astilbe

Astilbe brings a graceful, feathering note to moist, shady landscapes. In cooler climates, it tolerates full sun provided it has a constant supply of moisture. In drier sites, however, the leaves will scorch in full sun. Feathery plumes of white, pink, lavender, or red flowers rise above the finely divided foliage from early to late summer depending on the variety. When planted in the right conditions, it will spread slowly over time. Most commercially available types are complex hybrids. Zone 4-8

Lungwort

Even in chilly early spring weather, the brilliant blue, pink, or white flowers of lungwort bloom, brightening up shady locations. The rough basal leaves, spotted or plain, always please and continue to be handsome through the season and into winter. Planted close as a weed-discouraging groundcover, or in borders as edgings or bright accent plants, lungworts are cold-hardy workhorses and retain their good looks. Zone 2-8

Garden Plans For Hellebore

No-Fuss Shade Garden Plan

This no-fuss shade garden plan features several plants that don't mind limited sunlight and still add bright blooms and lush foliage. The perennials are planted in layers, starting with hostas in the back and ending with a layer of fine-textured plants in the front such as deadnettle and barrenwort.