Snowbells Christmas Rose

Light Needs

Full Shade to Part Shade

(0-4 Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

10-12 Inches

Mature Spread

12-14 Inches

Growing Zones

4 to 9

Many gardens fade quietly into winter, but not yours. You can announce winter with an explosion of showy double white blooms with Snowbells Christmas Rose. Chartreuse stamens add a refreshing contrast. This tidy hybrid stays under 12 inches tall and only grows 14 inches wide, thriving in exposures from partial to full shade. The flowers nourish pollinators, from bees to hummingbirds, when they need it most, and the notched foliage is a handsome evergreen presence all year.

Snowbells is a hybrid from helleborus niger, aka the Christmas Rose, and is one of the earlier hellebores to flower. The flowers are held more sideways than many later-blooming types, showing them off nicely. Hellebores are classic low-maintenance performers in shady garden beds and borders and for offering seasonal color in winter patio pots with, for instance, red-twig dogwood stems, winter heaths, and wintergreen. Hellebore blooms are long-lasting both in the garden and when cut, making a charming display floating in a bowl.

Snowbells Christmas Rose Care

Hellebores like a shady location away from the hottest west-facing sun, which can scald their leaves. They prefer rich organic soil; they can thrive in either sandy or clay soil with a pH from neutral to alkaline. Once their roots have become established, they are surprisingly drought-tolerant, making them a candidate for tough spots under deciduous trees, as long as there is root space. The first few years, water well during the growing season, keeping the soil moist but not wet.

Hellebores are only moderate feeders, so for fertilizer, some aged cow manure (not fresh) or compost is a welcome addition in spring. Alternatively, consider applying controlled-release fertilizer once in spring. A deep organic mulch will keep moisture in the soil and may encourage seedlings to sprout which can be transplanted in early spring.

Snowbells Christmas Rose Spacing

Allow at least 12 inches of space between your Snowbells Christmas Roses to allow for enough root space when the plants mature.

Simple Plant Spacing Calculator

Planting Shape

Rectangle Circle Known Area

Length (ft)

Width (ft)

Diameter (ft)

Or enter radius below

Radius (ft)

Known Area (sq ft)

Plant Spacing On-Center (in)

Pattern

Square (grid) Triangular (staggered)

Fill edge gaps (max plants)

Enter area to see results.

Visual Preview

Print / Save PDF

Powered by