How to Properly Care for a Christmas Rose Plant
The Helleborus Niger, or Christmas Rose as it is more commonly called, is a very simple garden plant which can really add a lot of color to any garden or landscaping project. It is well loved because of the fact that it blooms in the middle of the winter when most everything else is frozen. Many people choose this great plant to help them be able to enjoy the beauty in their yard all year long. The flowers which are produced by a Christmas Rose typically bloom from late fall through the early spring time.
Growing Tips for the Christmas Rose Plant
One of the few evergreen plants which are commonly used in residential gardens, the Christmas Rose will grow to about 12-15 inches tall giving them a nice structure that can help them stand out, even when surrounded by snow. They have dark green leaves which are quite shiny all year long. When the days get shorter and the temperature begins to drop each plant will produce one white or pink bloom which can be 2-4 inches large.
To help these durable plants thrive you will want to plant them in an area of your yard which has a lot of shade because they prefer cooler temperatures and indirect sunlight. Placing them around the base of a tree, for example, is an excellent choice because it will protect them from the sun in the summer but allow them to get the sun they do need in the winter. While growing through the summer months they will need the soil to remain moist and have plenty of room for a deep root system. Planting them near larger trees or even a home is a good idea so they won’t get blown away during the winter storms.
When preparing to plant a Christmas Rose you need to make sure you have plenty of room. Due to the large root system these plants really should be placed about 12-16” apart from each other for best results. They do best when the soil they are in is either neutral or even slightly alkaline so be sure to have your soil’s pH levels tested before purchasing this plant. You can also use things like leaf mold, peat moss or compost to help ensure the area where you plant the Christmas Rose is ready.
If you decide to attempt to grow a Christmas Rose plant from a seed you will want to be ready for a long wait. These plants take three or four years before they are large enough to produce flowers. Sine they grow fairly slowly you will want to make sure you don’t forget about them since they could require watering and shade in the summer if you don’t have it already set up. Once the plant has reached maturity, however, you’ll be able to enjoy the flowers every winter for years to come. If you’re not interested in waiting this long for the flowering, you can often find these plants in a nursery ready to be planted in the spring. If you plant them properly they should be ready to flower during the first winter.
