Helleborus niger 'Christmas Carol'
Christmas rose
This early-flowering hellebore will often produce its large, glowing white flowers in time for the Christmas festivities - and it will usually continue to bloom until early spring.
Helleborus niger 'Christmas Carol' is invaluable for livening up the garden during some of the darkest months of the year, whether planted out into a partially shaded border, or popped into a patio pot or windowbox.
Helleborus niger 'Christmas Carol' is invaluable for livening up the garden during some of the darkest months of the year, whether planted out into a partially shaded border, or popped into a patio pot or windowbox.
How to care for Helleborus niger Christmas Carol:
Add lots of well-rotted leaf mould or organic matter to the planting hole. Cut the old leaves back down to the ground in January or February as this will show off the new emerging flowers to best effect. It will also help to get rid of foliar diseases such as hellebore leaf spot.
Apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted organic matter around the base of the plant in autumn and provide a top-dressing of general fertiliser each spring. Cut off the seed heads to prevent inferior seedlings colonising.
Apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted organic matter around the base of the plant in autumn and provide a top-dressing of general fertiliser each spring. Cut off the seed heads to prevent inferior seedlings colonising.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
0.3m
Eventual spread:
0.4m
Position:
Light shade
Rate of growth:
Average
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Fully hardy
-
This perennial is semi-evergreen so it can lose some of its leaves in winter. In colder regions or more exposed gardens, it may lose them all, but then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
-
Humans/Pets: Harmful if eaten; skin irritant
