Home Garden & Home Winter Helleborus niger ‘Advent Star’ | Plant Profile

Helleborus niger ‘Advent Star’ | Plant Profile

Helleborus niger ‘Advent Star’ is a striking variety of ‘Christmas Rose.’ It has deep green, glossy foliage which provides the perfect foil for the pure white flowers with yellow centres which are produced from early December through into the late winter.

It’s an excellent variety for a festive display, either on its own in a decorative pot or mixed with other winter varieties such as Cyclamen, Heuchera, Grasses and Gaultheria. Place it in a spot where you can enjoy the bright flowers in the darkest depths of winter. It prefers to grow in dappled shade in a neutral to alkaline, moist but free draining soil.

Fact file

Sun requirements	Best grown in dappled shade
Soil	Thrives in neutral to alkaline soils that are moist, fertile and humus-rich
Hardiness	Fully hardy in all regions in the UK, will survive to -15 and below
Size	Grows to approx. 40cm x 40cm
*Flowering time*	December – March

Growing Guide

This variety has been selected for its large pure crystal white flowers which are carried on strong, upright stems and borne above the foliage. It is a particular early flowering form and most will produce flowers from mid-December (dependant on weather conditions).

Planting

Dig a hole at least twice the size of the rootball and loosen the sides, mix the soil with some soil improver such as compost, plant the rootball taking care to lightly cover all the compost without burying the crown, firm well and water thoroughly. For the first year ensure the rootball doesn’t dry out whilst the plant establishes. Protect your plant by growing it in a site that doesn’t experience cold winds. Fully hardy in the UK. Avoid moving these as they will struggle to be established when moved.

Watering

These thrive in rich moisture retentive soil, so they need to be regularly watered. However, as they struggle in boggy and wet conditions ensure that they’re not being over watered.

Pruning

When the flowers and new foliage emerge is the best time to cut back the large leathery leaves. Ensure to mulch regularly on a yearly basis with well rotted compost or manure. Cut back the large leathery leaves when flowers and new foliage emerge and mulch plants annually with well rotted compost or manure.

Complementary Planting Ideas

When choosing plants to pair up with the Helleborus niger ‘Advent Star’ you can either go with complementing colours or shapes. Many other Hellebore will look great along side of them such as HGC ‘Wintergold’ and the ericsmithii ‘HGC Shooting Star’.

An easy plant to grow and excellent planted in a decorative patio container for the first winter, either as a stand alone plant on a doorstep or in a cool porch. Alternatively its pure white flowers can be used to brighten up a winter mixed container with other plants such as Heuchera, Grasses, Bulbs and Cyclamen. You can then plant this in a border after flowering has finished.

Fact

Also known as Christmas Rose the Hellebore is a member of the Buttercup family, Helleborus niger originates in the mountainous areas of Switzerland, southern Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Northern Italy where it can be found growing on the slopes of the mountains.