While other plants hibernate, the Christmas rose blooms. Here's what you need to know about planting and caring for Christmas roses.
The Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) is one of the most popular Christmas plants and enchants us with its beautiful flowers in the depths of winter. Black Hellebore, as it is also known, belongs to the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). The perennial is best known for its early flowering period and is therefore ideal for decorating house entrances or window boxes in the dreary winter months, because it opens its flowers when many other flowers are just hibernating. If you don't have a Christmas rose yet, you should consider getting this robust and easy-care ornamental perennial for your garden or balcony now.
In this article we will answer some interesting questions - such as whether Christmas roses are poisonous and where they originally come from. We will also introduce you to the most beautiful varieties of Christmas roses and explain what needs to be considered when planting, caring for and propagating black hellebore.
Christmas roses: origin and meaning
Perhaps you have already seen wild Christmas roses in nature. That would not be unusual, because some Helleborusspecies are also common in Europe. However, the ancestors of today's Christmas roses originally come from Southeast Asia, from where they spread westward along the shores of the primeval Mediterranean Sea after the peak of the last Ice Age (about 20,000 years ago). Due to the constant temperature changes during this period, they probably developed their ability to postpone and even interrupt the growth and flowering periods.
The species best known to us, Helleborus niger, is distributed in German-speaking countries as well as in Slovenia, Croatia and northern Italy, where it likes to inhabit bushy and sparse forests. It even occurs at altitudes of up to 1900 meters. Since there are hardly any wild specimens left in many places, Christmas roses are after theFederal Species Protection Ordinance specially protected. Fortunately, however, they have long been cultivated in monastery gardens and cottage gardens, so that today you can also buy cultivated varieties for your garden or balcony.
Helleborus niger is known by many different names. The literal translation of the botanical name is "Black Hellebore", because the crushed, black roots were used by pranksters as sneeze-powder. Since Christmas roses are poisonous, these fun actions could sometimes even end fatally - imitation is therefore strongly discouraged. The names "Christmas Rose", "Christmas Rose" (in English "Christian Rose") or "Christkraut" are in turn due to the tradition of cultivating them in such a way that they bloom on Christmas, i.e. around the day of Jesus' birth. In Austria, the terms "Schneerose" or "Schneebleamal" (i.e. "snow flower") are common, because in some areas they are already blooming when there is still snow.
Christmas roses have long symbolized the release from fear and even the ancient Greeks knew about the healing properties of the plant. However, the phytotherapeutic agent is currently only used in homeopathy. Rather, today the appearance of the Christmas rose is used in gardens and floristry. The white blossoms of the Christmas rose stand for hope and innocence. Also some poems are about the winter queen among the flowers.
Do Christmas roses bloom in summer?
The blossoms of Christmas roses open when many other plants are just hibernating, because Christmas roses need a cold stimulus for the blossoms to form. This phenomenon of the plant world is called vernalization. Depending on the variety, the main flowering period is in the winter months between November and February. However, some modern varieties, such as 'Double Fashion', bloom into April in mild years.
We will introduce you to other plants that bloom in November in our article on gardening in November.
The white or reddish bracts of the Christmas rose change color as they bloom. They fade slightly and then usually change to greenish to reddish. The blossoms of the Christmas roses usually remain in this coloration for a while. After flowering, the foliage adorns the garden - this is how the Christmas rose serves usduring the summer months as an ideal ground cover and gap filler.
Types and varieties of Christmas roses
In addition to the actual Christmas rose (Helleborus niger), there are about 20 other Helleborus-species, all of which are often mistakenly given the name "Christmas Rose" are summarized and are widespread in large parts of Europe and Asia. For example, the Oriental Hellebore (Helleborus orientalis), which is also called Lenten Rose or Spring Christmas Rose, is very well known. Compared to Christmas roses, spring roses only open their flowers a little later, from January to March.
Basically, two groups of Helleborus can be distinguished: the stem-forming (caulescent) and the non-stem-forming (acaulescent) species. As the name suggests, trunk-forming species are characterized by the fact that they form trunks above the ground. Furthermore, the rhizome is different than in non-stem-forming species, which means that, unlike non-stem-forming species, stem-forming species cannot be propagated by division. While most Helleborus-species belong to the non-stem forming group, Helleborus niger occupies an intermediate position. Although the Christmas rose does not form stems above ground, it does show differences from the other species in the subgroup Helleborastrum , which includes all non-stem-forming species with the exception of Tibetan Hellebore (Helleborus thibetanus ) fall.
The species Helleborus niger, which is the focus of this article, is further subdivided into different varieties. To make it easier for you to choose from this wide range of Christmas roses, we would now like to introduce you to some particularly beautiful Christmas rose varieties.
Helleborus niger 'Christmas Carol': Pure white flowers with a yellowish-green center; main bloom from January to March; clump-forming, sprawling growth; grows about 10 to 20 cm high; wintergreen
Helleborus niger 'Double Fashion': White Helleborus niger 'Double Fashion'White, double flowers; flowers from December; reaches heights of about 20 cm; suitable for sunny and semi-shady locations; very good winter hardiness
Helleborus niger 'HGC Jacob Royal': White flowers; blooms from November; strong and stable; medium growth; suitable for semi-shady and shady locations; very good winter hardiness
Helleborus niger 'HGC Joel': plentiful,bright white flowers; flowers from December; compact, medium growth; suitable for semi-shady and shady locations
Helleborus niger 'Praecox': White cupped flowers; flowering time from November to January; bushy growth; grows about 15 to 25 cm high; for semi-shady and shady locations; very robust
Helleborus niger 'HGC Jericho': Large-flowered variety; white flowers; flowers from December; dark green foliage; sprawling growth; grows up to 30 cm high; suitable for partially shaded locations
Helleborus niger 'White Christmas': Large, cup-shaped white flowers; grows about 20 to 30 cm high; blooms from December to February; prefers semi-shady locations; suitable for pot culture
Helleborus niger 'Maximus': large-flowered variety; single, white flowers; flowering time from November to February; sprawling growth; grows about 35 cm high; for half shade
Helleborus niger 'HGC Joshua': Early flowering variety (November to December); white, cupped flowers; sprawling growth; reaches growth heights of up to 30 cm
Helleborus niger 'HGC Josef Lemper': early flowering variety (from December); white, cupped flowers; medium growth; grows about 25 to 30 cm high; for partially shaded to shaded locations
It's best to plant Christmas roses in groups, then they come into their own. Planted slightly scattered, Christmas roses are also very suitable as underplanting for shrubs or trees. There are also wonderful combinations with other spring flowers such as tulips (Tulipa), crocus (Crocus) or snowdrops (Glanthus) ). Attractive perennial beds can also be planted in combination with cranesbill (Geranium), lady's mantle (Alchemilla) or columbine (Aquilegia ) create.
Buy Christmas roses
Young Christmas rose plants can be found in many online shops. However, it is worth visiting a garden center or nursery to see for yourself. Depending on the season, Christmas roses are usually only available for sale in autumn. In addition to choosing a suitable variety, you should make sure that the Christmas rose you choose is he althy and strong, because despite their robustness, Christmas roses can be affected by fungal infestation. If black spots appear on the leaves of the plant or the flower stalks are bent at the base,you should better keep your hands off this specimen. Small crawling creatures, such as aphids, like to eat Christmas roses. Therefore, when buying new plants, make sure that you only select he althy specimens that are free of pests.
In our special article we explain in detail what else you should consider when buying Christmas roses.
Plant Christmas Roses
In the following we will explain in which location Christmas roses feel most comfortable and what you should consider when planting so that your Christmas rose grows well.
Planting Christmas roses: The perfect location
If you have chosen a particularly beautiful Christmas rose for your garden, it is important to choose the right place for the planting. Basically, it is important that your Christmas rose has enough space in the garden to be able to develop undisturbed. Locations with nutrient-rich, well-drained humus soils that have a slightly alkaline pH of around 7 to 8.5 are ideal for Christmas roses. They feel most comfortable in the semi-shade under a tree. There the Christmas rose can enjoy the gentle rays of the winter sun during the cold winter months, but in summer it is protected from excessive heat.
You can find out what else you should consider when choosing a location for Christmas roses and where best to place your Christmas rose in the pot in our special article.
Planting Christmas Roses: Instructions
Once you have chosen the right location, you should plant out your newly purchased Christmas rose as soon as possible. The best time to plant Christmas roses in the bed is in autumn (September to November). Alternatively, in rough locations, it can also be planted in late spring (April/May). Be sure to keep a sufficient distance (about 35 centimeters) to other plants so that there is no competition for light, water and nutrients. For higher-growing hybrids, plant about 50 centimeters apart.
Before planting, dip the root ball in a bucket of water to allow it to soak. In the meantime, loosen the soil at the desired location and dig out the planting hole, which is about twice the size of the root ball. To ensure good starting conditions, it is best to enrich the soil with a shovel of compost and a handful of horn shavings. Now take the steeped Christmas rose out of the bucket and plant it upto the root collar. Press the soil lightly with your hands to seal any voids. Then you should water the freshly planted plant well so that the soil can settle. Finally, you can apply a mulch layer of coarse compost or leaves to ensure evenly moist conditions for the Christmas rose. Now you have to be patient, because it can sometimes take a year or two for young specimens to flower for the first time.
You should only replant Christmas roses if absolutely necessary, because they usually do not tolerate a change of location very well. In the worst case, it can even lead to the death of the plant. If it is still unavoidable, the best time to do so is in autumn (September) or spring (March/April). The more root mass is preserved, the greater the chance of a successful resettlement. Also make sure that the planting depth in the new location is maintained as far as possible.
Tip: To avoid skin irritation, be sure to wear gloves when planting Christmas roses.
Planting Christmas roses in pots
In order for your Christmas rose to thrive in a pot, there are a few aspects to consider when planting. Christmas roses are deep-rooted, which is why you should choose a sufficiently large planter for your darling. First of all, a drainage layer is placed in the pot so that excess irrigation water can drain away. In this way, waterlogging can be avoided.
A high-quality potting soil such as our peat-free Plantura organic potting soil is suitable as a substrate. It provides your Christmas rose with nutrients and can be made a little more permeable by mixing it with sand. Once the Christmas rose has been planted, a partially shaded spot on the balcony or terrace is a wonderful location. From then on, you should take good care of your darling, because Christmas roses in pots make slightly higher demands on care than outdoors. In addition to regular watering and fertilizing, sufficient frost protection must be provided so that the roots in the pot do not freeze through in winter. Here we explain which varieties are suitable for pot cultivation, how you should proceed when planting and what needs to be considered when caring for Christmas roses in pots.
Propagating Christmas Roses
If you can't get enough of Christmas roses, you should consider buying some particularly beautiful specimens yourselfmultiply. The simplest method is probably root division after flowering in spring. To do this, first tie the leaves together loosely with raffia and then push a pitchfork through the middle of the root ball. A second pitchfork is then placed just below the first. Now gently move both pitchforks back and forth to divide the rhizome. Be sure to dig the Christmas rose deep enough to preserve as much root mass as possible. Then plant the newly acquired plant directly in its new destination and water it well. The Christmas rose should bloom again for the next season.
Alternatively, you can also propagate your Christmas roses using seeds. A varietal propagation is not possible. In addition, this method of propagation is very time-consuming and labor-intensive. If you still want to make the effort, remove the seeds from the ripe fruits in early summer.
Fill a freezer bag with damp sand and then refrigerate the seeds for about four to six weeks before planting. This so-called stratification of the seeds is necessary because Christmas roses are cold germs. You can achieve a similar effect if you place the seed pot on the balcony over the winter. Alternatively, you can simply fade the Christmas roses in the bed and let the follicles burst. Next spring you can look forward to the first seedlings. However, the first flowers usually take about three to four years to appear.
Caring for Christmas Roses
Once the Christmas rose has grown well, it makes little demands on its care compared to other ornamental perennials. Sufficient watering is important during the flowering period from November to February. But even outside of the flowering period, the root ball should of course not dry out completely. Therefore, keep an eye on your Christmas rose over the summer months so that you can water it if necessary. A mulch layer made of compost, leaves or grass clippings not only keeps the soil moist, but also provides your Christmas rose with nutrients. However, regular pruning is not necessary for Christmas roses. In early summer (May), simply cut off the withered flower stalks so that the Christmas rose does not invest its energy in forming seed heads. The old foliage is only removed when it has completely retracted.
You can read all about the topic of "caring for Christmas roses" in our special article.
Common diseases and pests in Christmas roses
Unfortunately, even the hardy Christmas rose is not immune to infection with plant diseases and infestation with pests. We have therefore put together an overview of the most important diseases and pests on Christmas roses below:
Black spot disease
Black spots often form on the leaves of Christmas roses over the course of the year. These are caused by a fungus long known by the name Coniothyrium hellbori . However, the exact origin of the pathogen is still the subject of research. According to recent findings, it is therefore assigned to the genus Phoma or Microsphaeropsis . You can recognize the so-called black spot disease by the irregular, round black spots that appear particularly on the edges of the leaves. A particularly severe infestation can lead to the death of the leaves and should therefore be treated as soon as possible. To do this, remove the old diseased foliage. To prevent the leaf spot disease from spreading further, do not dispose of the planting material in the compost, but in the residual waste. Too low a pH in the soil, an oversupply of nitrogen and persistently wet leaves can promote fungal infection. Therefore, always ensure optimal site conditions so that your Christmas rose does not lack anything. If the worst comes to the worst, fungicides are also available, but they should be used as soon as the first symptoms appear in order to achieve an ideal effect.
Rhizome and stem rot
If the shoots of your Christmas rose break off on the ground for no apparent reason in spring and show brown to black rotten spots at the base, this is probably an infestation with what is known as rhizome or stem rot. Various fungi, such as Pythium, Phytophtora or Rhizoctonia, can be responsible for this. Unfortunately, combating these pathogens is almost impossible. Therefore, prevent the disease by planting the plant in a well-drained soil, because prolonged waterlogging can favor the appearance of these fungi.
Aphids and snails
In addition to fungal diseases, pests can also attack your Christmas rose. Aphids literally have the leaves of the Christmas roseword to eat. However, they do not pose a real threat to the plant. If you still want to do something about it, you can spray the affected leaves with a nettle broth you have prepared yourself or with a biological preparation from the garden supply store.
Snails, on the other hand, like to nibble on young cotyledons and leaves, so that there is hardly anything left of the plant. For the sake of the environment, you should use biological means to combat snails.
Here are some ways you can effectively fight snails.
Are Christmas roses poisonous?
Yes, all parts of the Christmas rose plant are poisonous and therefore unfit for human consumption. Responsible for this are various toxic ingredients such as the protoanemonin found in buttercup plants. In the genus Helleborus, the cardiac toxin Helleborin and the steroid saponin Helleborin, which has a strong effect on the heart, are also added. The roots are particularly poisonous, so that poisoning by snow roses is rarely observed. When gardening, however, escaping plant juices can lead to skin irritation. Therefore, always wear gloves when handling Christmas roses and do not touch your face while gardening. Among pets, puppies and young cats are particularly at risk, as they may ingest the poisonous seeds and roots out of curiosity.
In our special article on the subject of poisonous Christmas roses, we explain how you should react in the event of poisoning and how to ensure that it doesn't get that far.