Ice Breaker Ruby Hellebore

Ice Breaker Ruby Hellebore (Helleborus x ericsmithii 'Ice Breaker Ruby') is the deep-coloured member of the Ice Breaker series, with warm purple cup flowers around a large gold centre. It grows into a bushy clump of leathery leaves about 30cm to 50cm high and 40cm to 60cm wide, and the flowers open early, from winter into spring.

Why you'll love it

• Colour when little else flowers. Deep, warm purple cups with a bold gold centre open from winter into spring and are held up above the foliage where you can see them.
• Robust and vigorous. A newer hybrid that settles in well and bulks up into a full, bushy clump.
• Frost hardy. Cold winters suit it, which is why hellebores are a staple of southern and highland gardens.
• Handsome all year. The deep green, leathery leaves look good all year and set off the winter blooms.
• Good in a pot. It is compact enough for a large container, so you can put winter colour beside a door or on a patio.

Where it works best

Shady borders. Plant 50cm apart so the clumps knit together in a drift. They flower while deciduous trees are bare, then rest in the shade of the canopy through summer.

Cottage gardens. The dark purple suits ferns, white winter flowers and early bulbs.

Pots on the patio. A large container in a sheltered, part shaded spot brings the flowers close to the house. Water pots more often.

Away from play areas. Hellebores are toxic if eaten, and the sap can irritate skin. Keep this one out of beds where pets or small children dig, and wear gloves when you cut it back.

Growing Ice Breaker Ruby Hellebore in Australia

Position and climate. Sun to part shade, with shelter from strong wind. In cooler southern and highland gardens it copes with a sunny spot if it gets plenty of water; in warmer gardens give it morning sun and afternoon shade. Frost is no problem, but hot, humid summers are its weak point, so in the humid subtropics grow it in a pot in deep shade.

Soil. Good, moist, well-drained soil with compost dug in. Set the crown level with the soil surface.

Water and feed. Water regularly until it is established and keep watering through dry spells: the sunnier the spot, the more water it needs. Mulch to keep the shallow roots cool in summer, and apply a liquid fertiliser regularly for strong flowering.

Pruning. Deadhead spent flowers to prolong the season. In late autumn, cut the old leaves off at the base before the new flower stems rise.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Ice Breaker Ruby Hellebore as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. A tube plant is small on arrival and puts its energy into roots first, so expect a modest first winter and a fuller clump after a season or two.

Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the grower has none, the tube shows as sold out on this page, and the notify button emails you the day it is back.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse our hellebore range
• Hellebore care guide: growing the winter rose
• Plants for partial shade
• Frost hardy plants

Common questions

Is Ice Breaker Ruby safe for pets and children?

No. Every part of a hellebore is toxic if eaten, and the sap can irritate skin. Plant it in a border out of reach of pets and small children, and wear gloves when you handle it.

When does it flower?

From winter into spring. It is an early flowering type, and deadheading spent blooms prolongs the display.

Will it grow in a pot?

Yes. Use a large container of good potting mix in a sheltered spot with morning sun, and water more often than you would in the ground.