Helleborus Species, Bear's Foot, Foetid Hellebore, Ox Heel, Stinking Hellebore, Stinkwort

On May 18, 2016, lfunnyfarm from Buford, GA (Zone 8a) wrote:

Helleborus foetidus grows quite well in North Georgia. Put it in at least partial shade for texture, winter greenery, and greenish-white flowers.

On Dec 20, 2015, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote:

A very beautiful plant, grown as much for its evergreen foliage as for its winter flowers.

Leaves are dark, black-green. The showy flower bracts are a pale apple-green, standing out from the dark foliage, and begin to expand in early winter. The long-lasting flowers are also apple-green, sometimes rimmed with red. They routinely appear in February here (Boston, Z6a), over a month earlier than H. niger.

Unlike H. niger and H. x hybridus, the evergreen foliage remains attractive here all through the winter.

There are many cultivars/seed strains, mostly 18-24" tall but some growing as tall as 4'.

The flowers often have a not-very-noticeable fragrance if you bring your nose to them, not exceptionally disagreeable. The leaves (sometime... read mores the roots) are said to smell a bit if crushed.

Fast-growing, short-lived perennial, often lasting only 2-3 years. Individually stems die shortly after going to seed, but the plant usually puts out more stems from the base. Usually self-sows enough to keep going in the garden despite its short lifespan. I don't believe it's possible to propagate this species by taking cuttings.

Need well drained soils. Shade isn't a requirement, at least not here in Z6a. Performance is poor in climates with hot summers, as in the southeastern US south of Z7.

On Mar 13, 2011, Hudson3 from Hudson, NY wrote:

Stately, beautiful and mysterious plant for the woodland garden. Blooms very early --often through the snow, would probably be happier in zone 6. Self-sows. Nice with other hellebores (it's taller and has more delicate leaves). A unique and beautiful plant.

On Apr 16, 2005, PurplePansies from Deal, NJ (Zone 7a) wrote:

I'll give this plant a neutral because it grew like a pro.... very easy.... looks lush and "perfect" with minimal care..... however its NOT MUCH TO LOOK AT....! ..... the evergreen leaves are nice (because they are evergreen!) but the flower are TOTALLY UNIMPRESSIVE...... small green things that don't stand out and hand down so you can hardly see them..... this may be nice used as a ground cover in "unwalked on" areas so that its foliage could provide winter green the the small green flowers would be a "bonus".... don't use as any sort of specimen..... as alone or used in such a manner it is very unimpressive.....
NOTE: this plant sap/juice/leaves bracts etc. can cause EXTREME DERMATITIS. It can lead to PAINFUL burning of the skin especially "open" areas. Even washing with soap ... read moreand water only mildy numbs the pain. Use caution.

On Jul 12, 2003, jkom51 from Oakland, CA (Zone 9b) wrote:

I have a very vigorous unnamed specimen of H.foetidus. It was put in the ground from a 1-qt size in September and started flowering in December. That flower stalk lasted until April. The plant continued to expand vigorously and put up a second flower stalk which has just started to open up blooms (today is July 11th). This is my first experience with hellebores (I have three H. orientalis as well) here in coastal Northern CA/Sunset zone 17, and it looks like they are very consistent bloomers for well over half a year. With such attractive evergreen foliage I'm surprised they are not grown more often in gardens here.