How to Plant Hellebores: 4 Tips for Growing Hellebore Flowers

Hellebores (scientific name Helleborus) are cold-weather flowering plants from the Ranunculaceae family that produce rose-like blossoms (made up of protective sepals) in many colors, including green, white, and purple. Most hellebores plants are evergreen in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9 (meaning they retain their green foliage even during the winter) and early bloomers, blossoming as early as January and remaining in bloom until March.

Hellebores are perennials, meaning they grow back year after year and drop seeds to self-sow and spread additional seedlings in your garden.

Hellebores come in a wide range of different varieties:

1. 1. Helleborus argutifolius: Also called the Corsican hellebore, H. argutifolius is an evergreen perennial that blooms with pale-green flowers between late winter and early summer.
2. 2. Helleborus foetidus: Also referred to by the common name “stinking hellebore,” H. Foetidus blooms with green flowers edged in red between late winter and mid-spring.
   
3. 3. Helleborus niger: Also called the Christmas rose, H. niger can bloom earlier than other hellebore varieties, as early as December in areas with mild winters. Their flowers are white, fading to green or pink as they age, and they face out, rather than facing down like other hellebore varieties. Common cultivars include ‘Ivory Prince.’
4. 4. Helleborus orientalis: Also called the Lenten rose because it blooms during the Catholic season of Lent, H. orientalis is one of the most varied types of hellebores, and blooms come in many different colors, most commonly purple, maroon, apricot, and white flowers.
5. 5. Helleborus x hybridus: There are several hybrid hellebore flowers on the market—common cultivars include ‘Onyx Odyssey,’ ‘Candy Love,’ and ‘Party Dress Pink.’

You can plant hellebores anytime between March and August to give them time to root and establish before blooming in the late winter. Once you’re ready to plant your hellebores:

1. 1. Choose the planting site. Hellebores grow well in the cold, late-winter months and prefer partial shade to full shade once the summer sun comes. The ideal site for hellebore flowers is underneath a deciduous tree, which allows them to receive winter sun while the tree’s branches are bare and become shaded once the leaves grow back in the spring. If you want to plant your hellebores elsewhere, choose a shade garden or another area that will protect them from full sun during the summer months. Planting on a slightly raised spot—either by mounding up the soil or planting on a hill—can offer gardeners a better vantage point to enjoy the plant’s downward-facing blooms.
2. 2. Prepare the soil. Hellebores prefer loamy, well-draining soil rich in organic matter. You can amend the soil with compost or other organic matter but avoid using fertilizer right away since it can burn the roots while they’re tender from transplanting.
3. 3. Dig the holes. The root crowns of hellebores plants can be sensitive to rot when buried, so dig a hole just as deep as the pot to avoid burying the crown. Space your holes around 15 inches apart to give the plants space to grow.
4. 4. Plant your hellebores. Hellebores plants are mildly toxic and can cause minor skin irritation, so always wear gloves when handling the plants. Loosen the plant from the pot by squeezing the pot and turning the plant on its side. If the root ball is especially compacted, gently loosen the soil with your fingers, then place the roots into the hole and cover with soil.
5. 5. Water immediately. Water the roots to pack down the soil and hydrate your plant.

Hellebores are hardy, low-maintenance plants that don’t require a lot of care:

1. 1. Water young plants to establish them. New hellebore plants require about an inch of water per week, either through rainfall or manual watering, to help them get established. Once your plants are comfortable and blooming with new growth, taper off watering and only water them during dry spells.
   
2. 2. Monitor for pests and diseases. Hellebores can be targets for aphids—if you spot aphids or trails of sticky residue, treat your plants with neem oil or organic insecticide. The most common diseases affecting hellebore plants are leaf spots, downy mildew, and “black death.” If you spot discoloration, intensely stunted growth, or major leaf curl, trim away the affected plants. You can treat some diseases early on with fungicidal treatment.
   
3. 3. Thin or transplant new seedlings. Hellebores plants self-sow, meaning they drop seeds that will sprout new plants. To avoid overcrowding, pull up or transplant seedlings as they sprout. Seeds from hybrid plants will usually sprout different-looking flowers than the parent plant. If you don’t want additional hellebore seedlings, you can trim wilting flowers to prevent them from dropping hellebore seeds. Wear gloves when handling hellebores plants to protect your skin from mild irritation.
4. 4. Overwinter according to your area. In late summer or late fall, your plants will be finished flowering for the season, and you’ll need to prepare them for winter. In most areas, hellebores plants don’t need to be trimmed to the ground for winter since the plants are especially cold hardy and usually remain evergreen throughout the snowy months. However, if you live in an area with especially harsh winters, the leaves may droop and turn brown. In this case, simply prune the plants down to the ground, which will remove the old foliage and allow them to wait until conditions are right in late winter or early spring to send up new shoots and bloom. You can also add a layer of mulch over the roots to further insulate the soil during cold weather.

Like many ornamental flowers and bushes, hellebores are toxic to both humans and animals, so avoid ingesting them and plant them away from areas accessible by pets.

Hellebores can also cause mild irritation to skin, so most growers recommend wearing gloves when handling the plants to avoid direct contact with its leaves, sepals, or flower stems.

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