It’s not a secret that every flower is a symbol of definite feeling. One of the most charming legends tells the history of the awesome Christmas Rose that nowadays is the main symbol of love and hope. You can meet other names of the floweret – the Snow Rose or Winter Rose.

The legend is closely connected with Christmas wonders. According to the story, a young shepherdess named Madelon presented the flower to the Baby Jesus. It symbolizes endless love and devotion. It’s impossible to distract the view from the beauty of the snow-white vine.

The main peculiarities of the flower

It’s an ideal variant for those who want to savor the blooming garden even during the darkest months of the year. The vine produces flowers from late fall till early spring. It’s an evergreen perennial. Each clump is able to produce from 2 to 3 large nodding flowers. The plant has no leafy stem. The most popular varieties of the Helleborus Niger are the following:

• Rock’n Roll has pink double flowers;
• Party Dress Ewalina is the best choice for those who like small medium-sized vines;
• HGC Merlin features exceptional breeding. It’s one of the tallest varieties.         

Yet, there is one significant drawback of this flower you should know about. It’s toxic. The plant is especially dangerous for cats and dogs. Moreover, because of its eye-catching beauty, it’s extremely attractive for small children who like chewing it. The most common symptoms of poisoning are vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy, and diarrhea. As soon as you notice these signs, you have to go to the doctor.        

How to grow Helleborus Niger

Christmas Rose is a durable and easy-to-grow plant. It’s hardy in Zones 4-8. You can plant the samples both from seeds and seedlings. There are definite requirements for the soil you have to follow if you want to achieve the best results. The soil should be rich, moist, alkaline, and well-drained. It means you do not worry about the very type of soil in your garden. Moreover, it’s quite possible to grow the vine in the pots or containers.

Helleborus Niger tolerates any weather conditions. Yet, it’s better to choose part shade or full-shade spot. It’s also necessary to solve the problem of weeding. In winter, it’s almost impossible to pull out weeds by hand. It’s rather cold and uncomfortable. It’s a cool idea to install landscape fabric to stop weeding. You can do it in advance. The thing is the landscape fabric has a long lifespan.

Helleborus Niger requires no complicated maintenance. You have to avoid overwatering. It’s also necessary to add fertilizer during active growth. You should also deadhead the spent blooms to promote further foliage. To sum it up, it’s worth mentioning that Christmas Rose is a perfect flower to add beauty to gloomy fall and winter months.