Helleborus foetidus

Description

Helleborus foetidus – stinking hellebore

Botanical name: Helleborus foetidus
Common names: Stinking hellebore, bear’s foot
Family: Ranunculaceae
Plant type: Evergreen perennial
Habit: Upright, shrubby, clump-forming
Pot size: 2–3 litre pot
Eventual size: Approx. 45–75cm tall × 45cm spread
Foliage: Handsome, deeply divided, narrow, dark green evergreen leaves on upright stems
Flowers: Large clusters of many small, nodding, cup-shaped pale green bells, often rimmed with maroon-red, over a very long season from late winter into spring (January–April)
Scent: Foliage faintly unpleasant only if crushed; flowers not notably scented
Aspect / light: Partial shade to full sun; tolerates dry shade
Soil: Well-drained, humus-rich; tolerates poor, dry and chalky soils and dry shade; neutral to alkaline preferred; any pH
Hardiness: RHS H5 (hardy, to about −15°C); USDA zones 5–8
Exposure: Sheltered or open
Native range: Native to western and southern Europe, including the UK
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Toxic — all parts are harmful if eaten, and the sap can irritate skin; keep away from children and pets, and wear gloves when handling

Helleborus foetidus, stinking hellebore, is a handsome native evergreen with architectural dark foliage and long-lasting clusters of pale green, maroon-rimmed bells from late winter. Superb for shade and dry shade.

GardenAdvice notes

Despite its unfortunate name, our native stinking hellebore is a wonderful, architectural evergreen — its handsome, deeply divided dark green foliage gives year-round structure, and from late winter it carries large, long-lasting clusters of nodding pale green bells, often prettily rimmed with maroon-red. (The ‘stink’ is faint and only released if the foliage is crushed.) Tough and adaptable, thriving even in dry shade, it is one of the best hellebores for difficult spots and for winter structure, and its early flowers feed bees.

Growing & planting

Plant in autumn or spring in well-drained, humus-rich soil in partial shade to full sun — it is more sun- and drought-tolerant than most hellebores and copes well with poor, dry, chalky soils and dry shade. Space about 45cm apart. Mulch with leaf mould. It self-seeds gently to form colonies.

Care & maintenance

Low-maintenance. It is fairly short-lived but self-seeds freely, so leave a few seedheads to keep a colony going, or remove them if not wanted. Cut out the flowered stems at the base once the flowers fade and seed is shed, to make way for new growth. Mulch in autumn. Wear gloves when handling, as all parts are toxic.

Propagation

• Seed: Self-seeds very freely; young plants establish readily nearby.
• Division: Can be divided carefully in early autumn, though hellebores resent disturbance and are best left undisturbed.

Pests & diseases

Generally trouble-free and tough. It is naturally short-lived, but self-seeds to renew itself. Hellebore leaf spot and aphids can occur. Otherwise one of the most resilient hellebores, even in dry shade.

Uses in the garden

Superb in shady and woodland borders, dry shade beneath trees and shrubs, and gravel and sunny borders, where its architectural evergreen foliage gives year-round structure and its pale green winter bells bring early, subtle colour.

Wildlife value

A valuable native for wildlife: the nodding green flowers provide early nectar for bees on mild winter and early-spring days, and as a native it supports a range of insect life.

Toxicity & safety

Stinking hellebore is toxic — all parts are harmful if eaten, and the sap can irritate skin. Keep it away from children and pets, and wear gloves when handling or cutting it.

GardenAdvice tip

Don’t be put off by the name — stinking hellebore is a superb, architectural native evergreen, and the faint smell only comes if you crush the leaves. It’s the toughest of the hellebores, happy even in dry shade under trees, with handsome dark foliage all year and pale green, maroon-rimmed bells from late winter. It’s short-lived but self-seeds to keep itself going; just let a few seedlings stay. Wear gloves, as all parts are poisonous.

Our plants are guaranteed for 24 months for more details Click Here