Helleborus niger Maximus - Giant Christmas rose
Helleborus niger Maximus - Giant Christmas rose
Helleborus niger Maximus
Christmas Rose, Winter Rose, Black Hellebore
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This plant carries a 12 months recovery warranty
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We guarantee the quality of our plants for a full growing cycle, and will replace at our expense any plant that fails to recover under normal climatic and planting conditions.
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Description
Helleborus niger 'Maximus' is a Christmas rose with large white flowers, broader and more open than those of the typical form. It blooms in the heart of winter, from December to March, at ground level among dark green foliage. Its flowers may take on a slight pink tinge as they age, especially in cold weather. This compact selection easily finds its place in a shady border, at the foot of deciduous shrubs, or in a container on the terrace.
This hellebore belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. It is called the Christmas rose, black hellebore, or black hellebore. The word niger does not refer to the colour of the flower, but to that of the roots, which are dark and fleshy. The wild species grows in mountainous regions of central and southern Europe, particularly in the Alps and the Apennines, often at woodland edges, in open woodland, or on limestone slopes. It is a perennial plant with a rhizomatous rootstock that retains a good part of its foliage in winter. The main botanical synonyms for the species and its forms are Helleborus altifolius, Helleborus macranthus, and Helleborus grandiflorus. 'Maximus' is an old horticultural selection with large flowers. The plant forms a compact clump, 30 to 35 cm tall and 30 to 40 cm wide. Its growth is quite slow initially, but becomes steady in suitable soil. The leaves are borne on long petioles and divided into several thick, dark green, glossy leaflets that are toothed towards the tip. They remain ornamental for much of the year, though the oldest may become stained or damaged after winter. The single, 6 to 8 cm wide flowers face outward or are slightly nodding. What appear to be petals are actually long-lasting, white sepals surrounding a cluster of yellow stamens and small greenish nectaries. After flowering, green seed heads may appear.
Christmas rose 'Maximus' will create beautiful winter scenes near an entrance, at the foot of a deciduous shrub, or in a border visible from the house. It can be planted in small groups with Galanthus nivalis 'Viridi-apice' and Cyclamen coum 'Album', which flower near the ground and do not obscure its large white flowers. Helleborus foetidus 'Wester Flisk', with its pale green bells edged with purple and red-tinged foliage, combines well with all these plants. Epimedium grandiflorum 'Lilafee' will take over with its purple young leaves and small lilac flowers in April-May.
Helleborus niger Maximus - Giant Christmas rose in pictures
Flowering
Foliage
Plant habit
Botanical data
Helleborus
niger
Maximus
Ranunculaceae
Christmas Rose, Winter Rose, Black Hellebore
Helleborus niger 'Maximus'
Cultivar or hybrid
Planting and care
Plant Helleborus niger 'Maximus' in autumn or spring, avoiding periods of frost and severe drought. Choose light shade or bright partial shade, for example under deciduous trees: the plant benefits from light in winter, then shade in summer. Morning sun suits it if the soil does not dry out too quickly. Avoid scorching locations, cold winds, and acidic or poor soils. This Christmas rose prefers deep, humus-rich, fertile, neutral to calcareous, moist but well-drained soil. In very clayey soil, adding mature compost and leaf mould improves the structure. In too-dry soil, a mulch will keep the moisture around the crown. Water regularly the first year, then only during prolonged dry weather. The plant does not like being moved once established. At the end of winter, you can remove damaged leaves to expose the flowers and limit leaf spots.
Planting period
Intended location
Care
Planting & care advice
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a (East Coast and Midlands: Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Portlaoise). It will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the north-west (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal, Westport), delay planting by 1 to 2 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 1 to 2 weeks in autumn compared to the dates given, preferably choosing periods without strong winds.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (Wicklow Mountains, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, Connemara, Killarney), it is best to plant in spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October), avoiding periods of waterlogged soil in winter and strong winds, which pose the main risk to newly planted trees in these areas.
The flowering period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a, such as the East Coast and Midlands, including Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Portlaoise.
This will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the northwest (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal and Westport), it will be delayed by one to two weeks compared to the given dates, due to stronger Atlantic winds and less spring sunshine.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (the Wicklow Mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Connemara and Killarney), flowering will be delayed by two to three weeks. Flowering mainly occurs between May and July, with the limiting factors being less frost and more of the excessive humidity, strong winds and lack of sunshine that are characteristic of these areas.
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