Helleborus x nigercors Emma

Hellebore x nigercors Emma is a particularly robust and floriferous Christmas rose, a truly undemanding perennial plant that will not disappoint. This vigorous variety produces many white flowers with a rosy reverse from December to April depending on the climate. Their colour evolves over the days, with the plant forming a bouquet of white corollas, tinged with pink, purple or even light chocolate. They are borne on brown stems above very beautiful, strongly-toothed, dark and leathery leaves. This hellebore will live for many years in the garden, in most climates and even in occasionally dry soils.

Hellebores belong to the ranunculaceae family. Hellebore x nigercors Emma is a horticultural hybrid resulting from the cross-breeding of Helleborus niger (the true Christmas rose), widespread on the forest slopes of the central and eastern Alps up to an altitude of 1800 m (5905ft), on limestone soil, and Helleborus argutifolius (Corsican hellebore), native to Mediterranean mountain ranges.

Hellebore Emma is a sturdy perennial plant with remarkable longevity, slow-growing but sterile; propagation will only be possible by dividing the clumps. Its habit is bushy; an adult plant will reach 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12in) high and 50 cm (20in) in spread. From December to March-April, purple-brown stems appear bearing pink buds that open into wide white flowers measuring 6-7 cm (2-3in), with green stamens. They fade into different shades of pink, purple and brown. The evergreen foliage is composed of fairly tough leaves, 10 to 30 cm (4 to 12in) long, borne on brownish petioles and divided into 5 to 7 ovate or lanceolate, satin-green, strongly toothed segments. This Hellebore is hardy down to -20°C (-4°F) and tolerates a wide range of soils, limestone or clayey, humiferous or sandy, constantly moist or even dry in summer.

One of the main advantages of this hellebore is its long and exuberant flowering. From the first year, more than twenty flowers appear on the plants. New flowers constantly form, creating a beautiful contrast between the new and faded flowers. These flowers can be used in bouquets. It is also a good ground cover for partially shaded areas of the garden. Use hellebores like elements of an old tapestry, mixing them with brightly coloured woodland plants. They are highlighted when planted near Pieris, moderately sized rhododendrons, under conifers (especially on windy sites), surrounded by primroses, wood anemones, corydalis, dicentras, cardamines, or spring-flowering bulbs and snowdrops. You can also accompany them with ferns and shade irises to create a beautiful contrast a little later in the season. They can be planted in groups, like a bouquet, near the entrance of the house, in a shaded location, to enjoy their early flowering up close. They are suitable for flower beds, borders and containers,... Over time, the flowers of the Hellebore do not wither like the majority of other flowers but dry up instead.