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Christmas Rose (helleborus niger)

DrumelzierDrumelzier Posts: 42
in Plants
Hi everyone. I've just had a delivery of bareroot Chrsitmas Roses.  I watched Monty's video on planting and he strongly recommends plenty leaf-mould.  I have none.  Is this sold in garden centres? (I've never noticed it).  Is there anything else I could use?  Thanks for any help! :smile:
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  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    Hello Drumelzier. Do not worry about using leaf mould under your Hellebores. As far as I am aware you cannot buy leaf mould. You could always work a little bit of peat free compost underneath your plants if your soil is a bit claggy. Mine just got planted straight into the ground with nothing under them and they are doing fine.
    I rake up the autumn leaves and stack them in an old open topped compost bin and leave them until they have broken down but I've heard that you can use a bin liner. Puncture the base with a garden fork, fill with leaves and leave somewhere sheltered. The leaves will break down and you will have your own leaf mould
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • DrumelzierDrumelzier Posts: 42


    This is what they look like just now - bare roots, about 10 inches high.  Just gave them some water and put in front of the window until tomorrow.
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    They look nice, healthy specimens Drumelzier.
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • DrumelzierDrumelzier Posts: 42
    Ladybird4 said:
    Hello Drumelzier. Do not worry about using leaf mould under your Hellebores. As far as I am aware you cannot buy leaf mould. You could always work a little bit of peat free compost underneath your plants if your soil is a bit claggy. Mine just got planted straight into the ground with nothing under them and they are doing fine.
    I rake up the autumn leaves and stack them in an old open topped compost bin and leave them until they have broken down but I've heard that you can use a bin liner. Puncture the base with a garden fork, fill with leaves and leave somewhere sheltered. The leaves will break down and you will have your own leaf mould
    Thank you so much, Ladybird.  That's kind of what I thought re buying leaf mould.  I am going to try to make my own this year - have 3 old compost bags filled - will now go and poke holes in the bottom of them as you suggest.  I do have some peat-free compost, so I will put that in around the bare roots as the ground here is definitely claggy-clay.  Can you tell me, am I likely to see them flower this Winter coming, or will it be a year from now? 

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    I cannot say for definite but I suspect it will be next year you will see flowers. Making holes in the bottom of the bags allows any liquid to drain out thus avoiding having a rather smelly, slimy mass in your compost bags, but they are ideal.
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • DrumelzierDrumelzier Posts: 42
    Ladybird4 said:
    I cannot say for definite but I suspect it will be next year you will see flowers. Making holes in the bottom of the bags allows any liquid to drain out thus avoiding having a rather smelly, slimy mass in your compost bags, but they are ideal.
    Thanks - half the joy is wondering when!  I feel a bit more optimistic for them now... just hope it's dry enough tomorrow to go dig the holes. :smiley:
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    edited November 2021
    Good luck!
    For many years I grew fab Helleborus x hybridus without any problem.
    But I could never grow Helleborus nigra.
    Until I read Val Bournes helpful article...it worked.

    Quote from link....
    "My original Christmas rose grew because I had unwittingly given it ideal conditions: a deep root run, gritty, well-drained compost and a dry position away from the worst of winter rain. This is close to the natural habitat of H. niger, which grows on high ground in Switzerland, southern Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and northern Italy, in wooded and open situations. Winter rain falls as snow on high ground, which means that the crown of the plant doesn’t endure the sort of wet we experience in Britain, which does not suit H. niger."

    https://teddingtongardener.com/2013/12/27/christmas-rose-helleborus-niger/

    Hope this helps.
    You could try half the Monty method and half the Val Bourne method and see which does best in your area. Both are very very different.

    I spoke to a grower of H.nigra who said he made more money from these, as year after year people would come back to buy new plants as the previous ones had died.
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • DrumelzierDrumelzier Posts: 42
    Silver surfer said:
    Good luck!
    For many years I grew fab Helleborus x hybridus without any problem.
    But I could never grow Helleborus nigra.
    Until I read Val Bournes helpful article...it worked.

    Quote from link....
    "My original Christmas rose grew because I had unwittingly given it ideal conditions: a deep root run, gritty, well-drained compost and a dry position away from the worst of winter rain. This is close to the natural habitat of H. niger, which grows on high ground in Switzerland, southern Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and northern Italy, in wooded and open situations. Winter rain falls as snow on high ground, which means that the crown of the plant doesn’t endure the sort of wet we experience in Britain, which does not suit H. niger."

    https://teddingtongardener.com/2013/12/27/christmas-rose-helleborus-niger/

    Hope this helps.
    You could try half the Monty method and half the Val Bourne method and see which does best in your area. Both are very very different.

    I spoke to a grower of H.nigra who said he made more money from these, as year after year people would come back to buy new plants as the previous ones had died.
    Wow - lots to ponder then. Thank you for this… I have parts of the garden that are really dry, parts that are always very wet. A few areas that are in-between. Just as well I ordered five - there’s bound to be a place where at least one will find a way to survive! 😁
    It’s not raining at the moment, so here goes!
    Thank you again for the link, Silversurfer, kind of you to do that. 👍🏽
  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    Mine have been self seeding all over the gravel path.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I struggled to get them thriving until I started planting them proud of the ground. They rot otherwise.  I do the same with peonies to counteract the climate  :)
    My soil is heavy clay, although improved in many areas, and I also made raised beds. They do well in those. 
    As far as compost is concerned, I don't find it makes much difference to them as such. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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