Helleborus niger

Christmas rose

• Position: partial shade
• Soil: heavy, neutral to alkaline soil including heavy soil
• Rate of growth: average
• Flowering period: January to April
• Other features: all parts of the plant cause severe discomfort if ingested; the sap may cause skin irritation; dark greyish-green leaves give off an unpleasant odour when crushed
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  Despite its evocative name, this lovely hellebore is rarely in flower by Christmas. But the white, bowl-shaped flowers are well worth waiting for, brightening up those dark winter days. The flowers appear on short stems, are sometimes flushed with pink, and unusually for hellebores, are usually upturned rather than nodding. They last for two to three months, and the handsome evergreen foliage is deeply cut and dark green. One of the earliest flowering plants, this is best planted in groups at the front of a partially shady mixed border, or beneath deciduous shrubs among spring-flowering bulbs. In former times, hellebores were planted close to cottage doors to prevent evil spirits from crossing the threshold.

• Garden care:A top tip from the Crocus crew is to cut back the old leaves down to the ground in January or February. This will show off the emerging flowers to best effect and it also helps to get rid of foliar diseases such as Hellebore leaf spot. Add lots of well-rotted leaf mould, compost or manure to the planting hole. Apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3 in) mulch of well-rotted organic matter around the base of the plant in autumn and providea top-dressing of general fertiliser each spring.