Helleborus × ericsmithii 'HGC Silvermoon'

RHS Plant Profile

hellebore 'HGC Silvermoon'

RHS

Other common names

Winter's song hybrid Christmas rose 'HGC Silvermoon'

Synonyms

Helleborus 'Silver Moon'

Herbaceous Perennial

Buy this from Plant Nurseries
1 Suppliers

Has a clump-forming habit and leathery, toothed grey to green leaves. Upright stems produce pink to green to creamy white flowers from mid-winter until mid-spring

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam

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 Clay Loam

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

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: North–facing or South–facing or East–facing or West–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

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Ranunculaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Clump forming
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten; skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten; skin 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: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moisture-retentive, humus-rich but well-drained soil which is preferably neutral or alkaline, in a position with shelter from strong, cold winds and in full sun or light dappled shade, and mulch every autumn with leaf mould, chipped bark or other organic matter; for more advice, see hellebore cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by division of large clumps in early spring, watering well until they are established

Suggested planting locations and garden types

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

Pruning

Remove old leaves to help prevent hellebore leaf spot, and deadhead by removing old faded flower stems

Pests

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

Diseases

May be susceptible to hellebore leaf spot and hellebore black death