Helleborus foetidus - Stinking hellebore
Helleborus foetidus - Stinking hellebore
Helleborus foetidus - Stinking hellebore
Helleborus foetidus - Stinking hellebore
Helleborus foetidus - Stinking hellebore
Helleborus foetidus - Stinking hellebore
Helleborus foetidus - Stinking hellebore
Helleborus foetidus - Stinking hellebore
Helleborus foetidus - Stinking hellebore
Helleborus foetidus - Stinking hellebore
Helleborus foetidus - Stinking hellebore
Helleborus foetidus - Stinking hellebore
Helleborus foetidus - Stinking hellebore
Helleborus foetidus
Stinking Hellebore, Bear's foot, Dungwort, Foetid hellebore, Ox heel
The young plants have taken well and now have small, nicely dentate leaves. (I chose pots) We'll have to wait until next summer for the flowers, but I chose them for their pretty foliage and because they don't require much water.
Béatrice, 01/02/2026
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Description
Helleborus foetidus, also known as Stinking Hellebore, is a perennial that stands upright at the beginning of flowering and gradually bends over. These biennial and robust stems, 30 to 45cm (12 to 18in) tall, are glabrous (lacking leaves at the collar) but densely leafy below the inflorescence. Blooming early from January to April, it bears compound cymes of numerous small bell-shaped flowers, 1 to 3cm (0.5 to 1in) in diameter. These flowers are inclined to protect themselves from bad weather and symmetrical. They are pale green in colour, bordered with purple. They have numerous stamens, larger than the petals, inserted spirally as in all Ranunculaceae.
Following flowering, the Stinking Hellebore produces dry fruits releasing several seeds. These seeds were formerly used in the Middle Ages for their supposed purgative virtue to treat madness. The dark green leaves of this variety emit an unpleasant smell when crushed. They are divided into 7 to 10 narrow and lanceolate lobes. They are evergreen leaves that measure 15 to 25cm (6 to 10in) long. They become darker in winter. They are arranged horizontally around the stem.
Helleborus foetidus produces a large quantity of pollen. Native to western and central Europe, it is a perennial that does not last long, from 3 to 4 years. It reaches a height of 80cm (32in) at maturity. It is also a very hardy plant. It is visited by dipterous insects, bees, and bumblebees. It is found in undergrowth, shaded flower beds, as well as in scrubland and rocky areas. It is a plant that brightens up our winter walks. This Hellebore is a close relative of Helleborus niger. It is also a plant that can be toxic.
Helleborus foetidus - Stinking hellebore in pictures
Flowering
Foliage
Plant habit
Botanical data
Helleborus
foetidus
Ranunculaceae
Stinking Hellebore, Bear's foot, Dungwort, Foetid hellebore, Ox heel
Central Europe
Planting and care
Helleborus foetidus is ideally placed in the north in light shade or partial shade, sheltered from the wind. It is a calcicolous plant, meaning it grows in limestone soil. The soil should be fertile, moist but well-drained. This plant can be planted from early autumn to spring to flower from January to April. When planting, add leaf compost or organic matter. Be careful not to plant the plants too close together to promote their development. Water the plants well after planting and then add a layer of mulch 2 to 5cm (1 to 2in) thick. Regularly remove faded leaves, especially when flower buds appear. Later, remove faded flowers after seed fall. In autumn and spring, add compost to your Hellebores to stimulate their flowering. Once all the flowers have faded, replace the topsoil around the base of your plants with compost or well-rotted manure. Hellebores do not like stagnant water as it can cause them to rot. In summer, never let the stumps completely dry out. Hellebores do not like to be moved. Helleborus foetidus may be susceptible to black rot or the appearance of leaf spots. Aphids and snails can attack the plant.
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).
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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.