Hellebore ‘Christmas Rose’

Caution: irritant to skin and eyes, harmful if eaten. Plant hellebore bare roots at the earliest opportunity following delivery. Should soil conditions prevent planting directly into borders (if soil is frozen or waterlogged), bare roots should be potted up, watered sparingly and grown on in a cool position for planting out at a later date. Choose a position dappled or semi shade. Grow hellebores in fertile, moist, well drained soil. Add well rotted garden manure or other organic matter to improve very heavy clay or free draining gravel soils. Dig a hole wide enough to accommodate the bare root with its roots spread out, and deep enough that the crown of the plant is just a few cm below soil level. Backfill the hole with soil and firm the plant in gently.

Water hellebores regularly until established. Cut back old foliage in spring and apply a mulch of well rotted manure to the base of the plants. Try not to disturb hellebore plants after planting as they may take some time to re-establish. If necessary, move plants in the autumn.