Winter Rose

Winter Rose (Helleborus x hybridus 'Ice Breaker Max') flowers in the middle of winter, when almost nothing else in a cool climate garden is doing anything at all. It forms a low evergreen clump about 40cm tall and 40cm wide, then sends up outward facing white blooms that age to soft pink and hold for weeks. This selection carries larger flowers above the foliage rather than nodding into it, so you actually see them.

Why you'll love it

• Winter flowers. Blooms open through the coldest months and last for weeks, often carrying into early spring.
• Outward facing blooms. Older hellebores hang their heads. This one holds its flowers up and out, where they can be seen from a path.
• Evergreen and low maintenance. The leathery foliage stays all year, and the plant asks for one tidy up and one feed annually.
• Frost hardy and long lived. Hard frost does not trouble it, an established clump copes with dry spells in shade, and it holds the same spot for a decade or more.

Where it works best

Shaded borders and edging. Plant 40cm apart along a path or bed edge for a continuous low band. Site it where you walk in winter, because the flowers reward being seen up close.

Mass planting under deciduous trees. The same 40cm spacing works in a drift. Bare winter branches let light through exactly when the hellebores flower, then leaf out to shade them in summer.

Pots and small gardens. One plant suits a 250mm to 300mm pot, and three in a wide bowl beside a shaded doorway works well. Use a free draining mix.

Growing hellebores in Australia

Position and climate. Partial to full shade, with protection from hot afternoon sun. Cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens all suit it, and it is at its best where winters are genuinely cold. In subtropical and tropical gardens the chill is missing and flowering becomes unreliable.

Soil. Free draining, humus rich and neutral to slightly alkaline. Dig compost through the bed, and on heavy clay raise the planting area, because a hellebore in cold wet soil rots at the crown. Set the crown level with the surface, never buried.

Water and feed. Regular water through the first two summers while the roots go down, after which it is largely self sufficient in shade. Apply compost or a slow release fertiliser in autumn, as the flower stems form.

Pruning. Cut the old leaves off at the base in late autumn, before the buds appear. It looks brutal and it is the best thing you can do: it shows off the flowers and clears the leaf spot that overwinters on tired foliage.

What to expect when it arrives

Winter Rose is sold as tube stock. Hellebores are slow growing by nature, so a tube is a small plant with a strong root system rather than an instant display. Expect a modest first flowering in the winter after planting and a proper clump by the third year.

It may arrive with a few marked or yellowing lower leaves, which is normal for the genus and not a fault. Trim them off at planting. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse plants for partial shade
• Ideas for low growing border plants
• Frost tolerant plants for Australian gardens
• Compare plants for cool climates

Common questions

How far apart should I plant them?

Space them 40cm apart for a full mass planting or border. Each clump reaches about 40cm across, so the foliage meets by the third season and the soil stays covered.

Will it flower in a warm climate?

In warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, yes, given shade and reliable winter cool. In subtropical and tropical gardens there is not enough chill.

Are hellebores toxic to pets?

Yes. All parts of a hellebore are toxic to cats and dogs if eaten, and the sap can irritate skin. Wear gloves when cutting back the old leaves, and keep it away from pets that chew plants.