The Christ Rose (Helleborus niger) delights at Christmas time with its large, white flowers and deep green foliage.The hardy perennialis perfect for the front part of a partially shaded bed, but also feels at home in a container with other plants. Below we explain what care the Christmas rose in the pot requires and what suits it best.
Caring for the Christmas rose in the pot
The Christmas rose reaches a height of 30 cm and is therefore ideal for keeping in pots. Helleborus niger grows best in moist but well-drained or loamy soil in partial shade. Place the pot in a cool place and water when the top layer of soil dries out. Cut back the old leaves when the flowers and new foliage appear. Like all hellebore species, Helleborus niger does not like to be repotted once established and therefore should benot be shared.
Note: Helleborus niger can be toxic to cats, dogs and people. It has nectar- and pollen-rich flowers and is known to attract bees and bumblebees.
Christmas rose Lenzrose difference
The Christmas rose blooms in December and is therefore also called the Christmas rose. There are over 20 species of Helleborus, which are often confused and are all referred to by the name “Christmas rose”. Although they look similar, the spring roses (Helleborus orientalis), also called Oriental hellebores, bloom a little later in winter, namely from January to March.
Combine Christmas roses with other plants
If you have differentCombine plants in one container, you should make sure that they have similar requirements for location and soil. Of course, it is also important that they are winter hardy.
Christmas rose and evergreen companion plants
The white Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) is the star in this pot. It is combined with evergreen plants that beautifully highlight their flowers. Here the gardeners have chosen a solid green mini ivy and the colorful, spiky-leaved scented flower 'Variegatus'. The spindle bush (Euonymus japonicus) and the Japanese lavender heather (Pieris japonica). Place this pot in a sheltered, shady spot and pick off the flowers when they begin to fade to keep the pot looking fresh.
White Christmas rose and red cyclamen
Since the snow rose flowers are often nodding, plant them in tall pots near a door so you can see them clearly. Combine Christmas roses with white cyclamens for a chic, modern look or with bright red cyclamens for a Christmassy mix of red, white and green. To really showcase the flowering perennials, you can combine ivy and fir green.
Christmas plants with silver shine
This chic container planting is not frost hardy, but anyone can do itglazed terraceadd a touch of elegance. TheKorallenstrauch (Solanum pseudocapsicum)forms an eye-catcher in the background, while the silver basket (Calocephalus brownii) breaks up the foreground. Silver-sprayed pine cones and white fairy lights make the whole thing particularly Christmassy.
Sophisticated citrus notes
A dose of sunny lemon yellow is a welcome sight in the cold season, but in combination with gray (the white tomentose ragwort) and black (the flat-shafted snake's beard) the result is a sophisticated arrangement that really comes into its own on the terrace. Choosing robust, cold-tolerant plants such as juniper, sky bamboo and snake's beard grass will keep the planting looking beautiful for a long time, even without the beautiful white flowers of the Christmas rose (Helleborus niger).
1. Gold-Säulenwacholder ‘Gold Cone’ (Juniperus communis ‘Gold Cone’)
2. Heiliger Bambus / Himmelsbambus ‘Magical® Lemon-Lime’ (Nandina domestica ‘Magical® Lemon-Lime’)
3. Black Snakebeard (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigre')
4. Christmas rose 'HGC Jacob' (Helleborus niger 'HGC Jacob')
5. Silverbell 'Lime Marmalade' (Heuchera 'Lime Marmalade')
6. White tomentose groundsel (Senecio cineraria 'Silverdust')
7. Large-leaved periwinkle 'Maculata' (Vinca major 'Maculata')
Christmas rose and heather
Helleborus x sahinii 'Winterbells' is the star in this pot. It is a cross between H. foetidus and H. niger and usually blooms from November onwards. Along with the popularBerry heather 'Aurea'They are an excellent choice to add some color to the garden in winter. The perfect complement to this are the red-leaved spurge 'Purpurea' and the fox-red New Zealand sedge. This pot will remain beautiful for many weeks if placed in the corner of a sunny patio where it can be seen from the house. Cut off spent flowers to keep the plants looking neat and beautiful.
The pale purple, pink and bronze tones give the arrangement a charming, cheerful look. Other recommended plants are the New Zealand wind grass (Anemanthele lessioniana) with yellow-orange-red coloring and the early spring cyclamen (Cyclamen coum).
Christmas roses instead of floating candles
Christmas roses and hellebores also make fantastic cut flowers. However, they are not placed in a vase, but rather displayed in an unusual way: the flower heads are cut off and left to float in a shallow bowl of water.
To do this at home, simply cut off the flower head of each flower, leaving an inch or two of stem remaining. Dip the ends in boiled water to seal them, then place them in a pretty bowl. The flowers can last up to a week.
