Winter Ballet Karli Hellebore

Winter Ballet Karli Hellebore (Helleborus x lemperii 'Winter Ballet Karli') is a deep red-purple hellebore with gold centres that, unlike many, holds its flowers upright and open instead of nodding. It makes a bushy clump about 60cm high and wide, with a long flowering season from late autumn to early spring. The upright habit means you see the colour without lifting a single bloom.

Why you'll love it

• Upright, open flowers. Winter Ballet types face outwards rather than hanging down, so the colour reads from the path, the window or the street.
• Rich red-purple colour. Deep and saturated, with gold centres, it holds its own in a winter border.
• A long season. Flowers appear from late autumn right through to early spring, for very little effort: a drink, a mulch and a tidy-up are the whole routine.
• Made for deciduous trees. It blooms brightly while the canopy is bare and rests quietly in summer shade.
• Happy in a pot. A container lets you place it somewhere prominent while it flowers, then move it to a cooler spot afterwards.

Where it works best

Under deciduous trees. Plant 60cm apart beneath maples, crepe myrtles or cherry-plums so the clump gets winter light and summer shade. At that spacing the plants just meet as they mature.

Patio and balcony pots. A large pot of good mix keeps Karli close to the door. Pots dry out quicker than the ground, so check the moisture often.

Shady and cottage borders. Its upright flowers show well above a groundcover of ferns, mondo grass or other low foliage.

Growing Winter Ballet Karli Hellebore in Australia

Position and climate. Sun to part shade, with shelter from strong winds. The sunnier the spot the more water it needs, so in warm gardens choose morning sun and afternoon shade. It is frost hardy. Hot, humid summers are a weakness, and in the humid subtropics it is best grown in a pot in deep shade.

Soil. Good, moist, well-drained soil. Add compost at planting, and set the crown level with the soil surface.

Water and feed. Water regularly until established and keep it up through dry spells. Mulch to keep the shallow roots cool in summer, and apply liquid fertiliser regularly for prolific flowering and plant health.

Pruning. Deadhead to prolong flowering. Cut old foliage back to the base in late autumn, before the flower stems emerge, so the upright blooms show cleanly.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Winter Ballet Karli Hellebore as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. A tube plant starts small, so expect it to spend its first season building roots and a clump before the flowers reach their full size and number.

Availability of the tube depends on our grower, who is sometimes out of stock. A sold out tube on this page simply means none are available at present, and the notify button will email you the day it returns.

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
• How to grow hellebores in Australia
• Plants for pots
• Plants for cool climates

Common questions

What makes Winter Ballet different from other hellebores?

The flowers are held upright and open, not hanging down, so you can see their faces without tipping them up. Karli also has a long season, from late autumn to early spring.

Are hellebores poisonous?

Yes. Every part of the plant is toxic if eaten, and the sap can irritate skin. Keep it away from pets and small children, and wear gloves when you cut it back.

Can it live in a pot all year?

Yes. Use a large pot and good potting mix, mulch the surface, and keep it in light shade in summer. Water more often than you would a plant in the ground.