Hellebore Care
Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. How hardy are hellebores?

A. All the hellebores on our plant list will grow in Zones 4-10.

H. xhybridus bloom

Q. When do hellebores bloom and how long does the bloom last?

A. Flower buds begin to develop in late fall and early winter. By February most plants will be in bloom and they continue blooming through March and often into April. By April the mature flowers which have been pollinated develop seeds.

Q. I have heard that I should be cutting off the leaves of my hellebores. Is this correct? And when would I do this?

A. Cut off any leaves which detract from the appearance of the plant, if they are weather damaged or laying on the ground. Make sure that there is new growth on the plant, either in the form of flowers or new leaves before removing all the old leaves. This can be done in the late fall but we prefer to wait until the first of the new year.

H. xhybridus

We cut the spent flower stalks of H. foetidus, H. argutifolius and H. xsternii in late April or May when they begin to die back. New leaf growth can be seen at the base of the plant in March. Anytime after March last year's leaves can be removed.

Q. When should I fertilize my hellebores?

A. If you are using a general purpose fertilizer on other perennials in your garden, you can use it on hellebores too. We get good growth results from composting them with leaf compost but they do fine without compost or fertilizer. We compost in March being careful not to cover the crown of the plant. This gives them some protection from drying out during our hot dry summers.

Q. Can I divide my plants? If so, when is the best time?

A. Yes, some of the hellebore species can be divided. These are H. xhybridus the 'Lenten Rose', H. niger the 'Christmas Rose', H. xnigercors, H. xericsmithii and H. xballardiae. We advise you to divide them in September. In September the plant to be divided will show signs of new root growth and flower shoots just under the soil. Use a fork rather than a shovel to dig the plant to avoid damage to new roots. Wash the roots free of the soil. Divide carefully to avoid damaging the tender new roots and flower shoots. Be sure to leave at least three new roots on each division.

H. xhybridus seed pod

We do not recommend dividing H. foetidus. This plant reproduces easily by seed in the garden and the young plants can be transplanted or left to naturalize.

Collection of H. xhybridus blossoms

Q. Can I use them as cut flowers?

A. Yes, our favorite method, because it's easy and shows off the inside of the flowers, is to cut the flowers leaving a very short stem, about one inch long. Float the cut flowers in a shallow bowl of cold water stem side down. Allow the water and the blossoms to come to room temperature together. This makes a wonderful display.

Email us at with your questions and we'll do our best to answer them.