Plant Min Zone: 5b
Plant Max Zone: 7b
Sunlight: Part Sun, Shade, Deep Shade
Water / Rainfall: Low, Average
Soil Quality: Poor, Average, Rich
Bloom Season: Winter
Flower Color: Green, Chartreuse, Mauve
Berry / Fruit Color: Green
Spring Foliage Color: Dark Green, Bluish Green
Summer Foliage Color: Dark Green, Bluish Green
Fall Foliage Color: Dark Green, Bluish Green
Evergreen Foliage: Yes
Winter Interest: Yes
Scented Flowers: No
Drought Tolerance: Medium, High
Wet-Feet Tolerance: Low
Humidity Tolerance: Medium
Wind Tolerance: Medium
Poor Soil Tolerance: Rocky Soils, Sandy Soils, Alkaline Soils (high PH)
Height: 0.75' - 1'
Width: 1' - 1.5'
Growth Rate: Slow, Medium
Service Life: Medium: 3-5 years
Maintenance Need: Low
Spreading Potential: Medium
Yearly Trimming Tips: Trim Perennial to Ground in Early Spring before New Growth: Has Winter Interest.
Plant Grouping Size: Small Grouping of 3-5
Best Side of House: East Exposure, North Exposure
Extreme Planting Locations: Root-Bound Soils Under Tree, Survives Severe Drought, Top of Retaining Wall Locations
Ornamental Features: Long Lasting Fall Color, Bright Winter Color, Emerges Early in Spring, Multiple Seasons of Interest, Fine Texture, Exceptional / Colorful Foliage
Special Landscape Uses: Groundcover
Possible Pest Problems: Stem/Crown Disease
Plant Limitations: May be Poisonous, Unwanted Self-seeding, Needs Excellent Drainage, Unpleasant Smelling Flowers / Foliage
Bear Claw / Stinking Hellebore (Helleborus foetidus) is the ultimate dry-shade plant for eastern Kansas landscapes. Most hellebores are native to mountainous wooded regions of Europe and Asia with limestone bedrock and calcareous, humus-rich soils. They have everything a gardener might ask for; beautiful spring flowers, dependable dark green foliage, evergreen during winter, appreciation for alkaline soils, and ease of care with very low maintenance. Hellebores are one of the first perennials to start growing in the spring with flowering occurring even with hard freezes. Bear Claw Hellebore literally starts blooming in January and February in zone 6a. The drooping cup-shaped flowers appear in spring, and are yellowish-green, often with a purple edge to the five petal-like sepals on strongly upright stems. The flowers are very attractive to bees and other insects at a time of year when hardly any other plant (except Witchhazel / Hamamelis) is blooming. Despite its common name, it is not noticeably malodorous, although the foliage is pungent when crushed. Greenish flowers last incredibly long 2 to 3 months and finally turn brown in May and should be dead-headed. Summer and fall foliage is bear claw-like, dark green, dependable, and pest-free. Evergreen foliage is hardy to about -10°F with complete death occurring at about -15°F for unmulched plants. Desirable self-seeding will occur around mother plants. Individual plants of this species usually live for 3-4 years so it is advisable to allow a patch of different aged plants. Flowering usually occurs at 2-3 years. Hellebores do have an Achilles heel however; they cannot tolerate wet or poorly drained soils, not even slightly. In areas with too much rainfall or poorly drained soils, foliage diseases and root rot are likely to occur. Hellebores are also not the best choice for full sun, while they will survive, they will get foliage burn in the summer when over 100°F in afternoon sun. This hellebore is less adapted to consistent summer heat and humidity of zone 7b areas or South. With poisonous foliage, these plants resist deer and rabbit browsing. What a great plant for the dry shade garden! There are a few interesting and improved cultivars but are rarely available.