Helleborus odorus

RHS Plant Profile

fragrant hellebore

Herbaceous Perennial

Buy this from Plant Nurseries
1 Suppliers

An early flowering, evergreen, clump-forming perennial to 50cm tall, with overwintering, leathery, dark green basal leaves to 40cm long, and 3 to 5 saucer-shaped, outward-facing, green single flowers with a blackcurrant scent, appear from midwinter to early spring

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Clay

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Clay

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Ranunculaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Semi evergreen, Evergreen
Habit: Clump forming
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eatenskin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eatenskin irritant. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Helleborus can be rhizomatous, herbaceous or semi-evergreen perennials forming a clump of pedate basal leaves, or evergreen with erect, leafy stems. Large, bowl-shaped flowers are borne in loose clusters in late winter or spring
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Former Yugoslavia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Prefers a humus-rich, fertile, and moisture-retentive soil in partial shade but will tolerate full sun. Protect from strong, cold winds and mulch with a layer of well-rotted organic matter in autumn. See hellebore cultivation for further information

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by division in autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds
Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Cut flowers

Pruning

Cut back to the ground brown or dead foliage in late winter when flower buds start to develop

Pests

May be susceptible to hellebore aphid, hellebore leaf miner and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to hellebore leaf spot and hellebore black death