Garden Use
Christmas rose is a real asset to the gardener looking for floral color in winter. It is a plant that tolerates shade well, so it can also be used in wooded areas or underneath trees. Since the plant spreads out over time, it can be used for an attractive ground cover. It is a very traditional garden plant, especially in the UK, and while it can be challenging to make it thrive, many people attempt to keep the christmas rose. Hostas, Coral bells, and Columbines are good complimentary plantings, especially since they will all bloom at different times.
Symbolism
Serenity, tranquility, peace, scandal, anxiety
Interesting Facts
Although the Christmas rose resembles traditional roses, it is actually a member of the buttercup family, making it
poisonous. It is steeped in tradition. Legend states that the shepherd Madelon didn’t have a present to give the Christ child, and when she began to cry, an angel brushed away the snow to reveal a pretty white rose.
Name Story
Christmas rose: Helleborus niger is commonly called the Christmas rose which is based on the old legend that it sprouted in the snow from the tears of a young girl who did not have a gift for the Christ child in Bethlehem.
Black hellebore: The black hellebore was described by Carl Linnaeus in volume one of his Species Plantarum in 1753. The latin specific epithet niger may refer to the colour of the roots. Even though the flowers are not black, it is still called the black hellebore.
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