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    • Photo of Helleborus foetidus flower by Far Out Flora

    Photo by Far Out Flora

    Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic

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    Helleborus foetidus

    Also Known As

    • Bear's Foot
    • Stinking Hellebore
    • Stinkwort

    Plant type

    perennial

    size

    • H: 24"-32"
    • W: 24"-40"

    planting zones

    • 6a-9b

    More Options

    Helleborus foetidus plant details

    Helleborus foetidus is a broadleaf evergreen perennial with green foliage. In spring and winter chartreuse flowers emerge. Attracts bees making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with mostly sun - shade and regular - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Prefers to be dry in summer. Adapts to various soil conditions. Does well in alkaline, average, clay, gritty, rich and well-drained soil.

    CHARACTERISTICS OF Helleborus foetidus

    Plant type: perennial
    Plant family: ranunculaceae
    Foliage: evergreen green
    Mature size: 24 IN - 40 IN - wide, 24 IN - 32 IN - tall
    Flowers: chartreuse blooms in spring and winter
    Uses: border plant, container plant, cutting garden, easy-to-grow, self-sowing, winter interest, woodland garden, year round interest

    GROWING CONDITIONS for Helleborus foetidus

    USDA Zones: 6a - 9b
    Sun exposure: mostly sun - shade
    Watering frequency: regular - low
    Resistant to: deer and rabbit
    Soil needs: alkaline, average, clay, gritty, rich and well-drained

    Nursery contributed plant descriptions

    ?An invaluable plant for sun or shade and a marvelous foil for silver foliage plants? (G.S. Thomas); handsome deeply-divided, very dark-green leaves and airy clusters of green and maroon bells; 18" x 18". S-PSh/M.

    By: Forestfarm

    Beautifully sculpted blue-green leaves on 2' stems display cupped, apple green flowers with red edges in mid-winter – part shade, most soils – great cut flowers, deer proof – will slowly expand to form a little colony – easy care – long lived! We plant these with other hellebores, ferns and hostas for a lovely woodland effect. Will compete with tree roots.

    By: Secret Garden Growers

    An intriguing grass for the shade which is perfect for the formal Japanese garden. Variegated but nearly all yellow, the leaf blades have narrow green stripes, mostly near the margins. Perhaps its most fascinating attribute is the cascading habit in which most of the leaves arch in the same direction, appearing much like a golden waterfall. Plant this grass where it will cascade down slopes, drape over rocks, crawl over the edges of walls, at the front of the garden, or even in containers.

    By: Noname Nursery

    Perhaps the hardiest of the Hellebores, this handsome evergreen plant begins producing flowering stalks in early winter with pale green blossoms, which continue to emerge through March and into April. Our seedling strain of H. foetidus has 'Wester Flisk' and 'Sopron' in its heritage, and seedlings vary ever so slightly but many have red tints to the leaf petioles and stems, and a slight silvery overcast to the foliage. H. foetidus is a caulescent form and blossoms are formed on stems from the previous year. Grows 18-24" tall and self sows very well for naturalizing..

    By: Avant Gardens

    This species from western, central and southern Europe has creamy green flowers with burgundy edges that bloom in late winter. The textural, leathery, deeply cut foliage is evergreen providing excellent foliage 12 months of the year. Pay no attention to its common name. It never smells unless you mince up its foliage and what gardener would want to put it in the Cuisinart! Plant in full to part sun. Deer resistant.

    By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

    A clumping evergreen perennial. Strong, erect stems bear many, dark green, divided leaves. In Winter branches of single, pale green, rose-like flowers are produced and which persist for several weeks. Provide with an alkaline, well drained soil. Plant the crown below the soil level. Tough and very easy to grow.

    By: Zephs

    An extremely winter hardy hellebore with green flowers very early in the spring.

    By: Hoot Owl Hollow Nursery

    In 2005, we received Hellebore seeds from Russell Graham, the renowned plantsman from Corvallis, Oregon. He has collected seeds from the best seedlings in his H. orientale breeding program & also from his best seedlings of other Hellebore species -- we lucky he has generously shared with us. H. foetidus has very attractive, deeply divided leaves (like bear paws?) & when the weather cools in Winter, the leaf color turns an even darker olive green. The many divided leaf segment lace together & cover the plant well. In mid-Winter to early Spring, the 2’ flower spikes bear bell shaped green flowers, often with purple margins & nicely scented. The “foetidus” (fetid) in the name does not refer to the scent of the flowers but rather the smell of the foliage when bruised, but even then the scent is quite mild. Like other Hellebores, a great plant for the dry shade garden but it will also do well in sun.

    By: Annie's Annuals & Perennials

    Large sprays of apple green flowers rise above stems of fine, linear dark green leaves. 3' x 3'

    By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

    The 'stinking hellebore' only stinks when enclosed. This pretty woodlander has narrow deep green leaves. Will slowly seed and spread in the shade. The green flowers are a bonus in the spring.

    By: Gossler Farms

    Gardening facts about Helleborus foetidus plant

    How to Grow Helleborus foetidus

    • Sun Exposure

      • mostly sun - shade

    • Water Needs

      • regular - drought tolerant

    • Water Needs

      • dry in summer

    • Soil Needs

      • clay
      • alkaline
      • adaptable
      • average
      • well-drained
      • rich
      • gritty

    Features

    • Foliage Color

      • green

    • Flower Color

      • chartreuse

    • Wildlife

      • bees
      • deer resistant
      • rabbit resistant

    • Flower Season

      • winter
      • spring

    • Foliage Season

      • evergreen

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