PLANT PROFILE
Hellebores
Helleborus · the winter rose
As autumn flowers retreat, hellebores open their buds. In my garden, two clumps carry the flowering season from November into May.
| LIGHT | Partial shade and shade in my garden | |
|---|---|---|
| FLOWERING | November–May in my garden | |
| PLANTS | Two clumps | |
| IN MY GARDEN | For seven years | |
| PROVENANCE | HORNBACH · potted | |
| TYPE | Perennial |
Portrait In my garden Care Photographs Sources
01 / PORTRAIT
Flowers as winter begins.
Patience until spring.
Hellebores belong to the genus Helleborus. “Winter rose” is a poetic name; they are not roses of the genus Rosa. The species and cultivars of my two clumps are not recorded, so I use the genus name here.
02 / PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
In my garden
in Bran.
BRAN · NOVEMBER 2026
I have two clumps bought in pots at HORNBACH seven years ago. They have developed very well, both in a partly shaded position with a little sun and in shade.
They flower from November until May in my garden. Their first flowers remind me that winter is close, even while autumn colour remains elsewhere in the garden.
This is the calendar I observe in my own plants. It is not a promise for every hellebore species or cultivar: flowering times vary.
03 / CARE
A few useful pointers.
The right position
Many varieties prefer partial shade in humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil. Requirements vary between species.
Moisture without waterlogging
Watch for drying soil after planting and during dry spells. Avoid places where water stands through winter.
When tending them
Hellebores are harmful if eaten and can irritate skin. Wear gloves when handling them.
04 / FLOWERS AND COLOURS
A closer look.
05 / SOURCES AND NOTES
A profile to return to.
Observations about the two clumps, their provenance and flowering from November to May: Julia, garden in Bran, recorded on 2 November 2026.