How to Grow Hellebores

Hellebores or ‘Winter Roses’ as they are known, provide an abundance of colour in the winter shaded garden. They are perennial plants often grown under tree canopies, in pots or in sheltered courtyards where they receive filtered light. Available in a range of colours from creamy white through to delicate pinks and deep magentas, there are many to choose from to suit any garden.

Semi shade to full sun

Regular watering

Well drained

Best time to plant is in autumn or early spring, in temperate or cool climatic zones

How to grow hellebores in a garden

Step 1

Choose a spot in the garden with semi-shade to full shade and that gets protection from the harsh afternoon sun. Enrich the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.

Step 2

Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the shrub from the container, gently tease the roots.

Step 3

Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. Form a raised or doughnut shaped ring of soil around the outer edge of the plant's root zone. This helps keep water where it's needed.

Step 4

Always water in well after planting to settle the soil around the roots and keep the soil moist for several weeks while the new plant establishes.

Step 5

Mulch around the base with organic mulch like bark chips, sugarcane or pea straw, keeping it away from the main stem.

Step 6

Feed every 1-2 weeks with Yates Thrive Roses and Flowers Liquid Plant Food.

How to grow hellebores in a pot

Step 1

Choose a pot at least twice the size as the selected plant. Position in semi-shade to full shade and fill with quality potting mix, such as Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter.

Step 2

To assist with soil moisture retention, mix in some Yates Waterwise Water Storage Crystals into the potting mix.

Step 3

Remove the shrub from the container, gently tease the roots.

Step 4

Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. Water in well.

Step 5

Mulch around the base with organic mulch like bark chips, sugarcane or pea straw, keeping it away from the main stem.

Step 6

Feed every 1-2 weeks with Yates Thrive Roses and Flowers Liquid Plant Food.

Growing tips

Hellebores can be grown from seed and will easily self seed in your garden bed.
To improve germination if planting out, mix the seeds through some peat moss and leave it in the freezer for a couple of weeks before sowing lightly, covering the seeds, in some Yates Seed Raising Mix and water well.
All parts of the Hellebore plant are poisonous. Take extra precautions if children are in the garden around this plant.
If your soil is a bit on the dry side, consider applying some Yates Waterwise Soil Wetter to assist with moisture penetration and retention.
After flowering, give the bushes a nice prune to encourage new growth.
Hellebores are great for planting under trees or canopies as they can handle the competition for nutrients.