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Helleborus foetidus (Stinking hellebore)

Other names: Barfoot, Bearfoot, Bear's foot , Foetid hellebore, Ox heel, Setterwort, Stinkwort

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Species
H. foetidus is a clump-forming, evergreen or semi-evergreen perennial with palmate, leathery leaves divided into linear or narrowly lance-shaped, toothed, dark green leaflets and sturdy, upright stems bearing nodding, bell-shaped, often purple-edged, pale green flowers from midwinter into spring.
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Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
0.6 m 0.5 m 2-5 years
1 ft 1 ft 2-5 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Chalky
  • Clay
  • Loamy
Soil drainage
  • Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
  • Alkaline
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Partial Shade
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • East
  • West
  • South
  • North
Exposure
  • Sheltered

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Additional plant details

Cultivation

Best planted in moist, fertile, humus-rich, neutral to alkaline soil in partial shade. For best results provide shelter from strong, cold winds and mulch annually in autumn.

Suggested uses

Flower Arranging, Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Underplanting

UK hardiness

H7

USDA zones

Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9

Sunset zone

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Low
Central Valley = Moderate/Medium
South Coastal = Moderate/Medium
South Inland = Low
High and Intermediate Desert = Inappropriate
Low Desert = Inappropriate

Foliage

Evergreen

Habit

Clump-forming, Erect flower stem

Native to

Western Europe, Central Europe

Drought tolerant

No

Flood tolerant

No

Toxicity

Ingestion may cause severe discomfort; skin irritant.

Plant care

Pruning

Leaves emit a pungent scent when crushed. Remove faded or damaged foliage as the flowers appear. Cut back spent flower stems.

Propagation methods

Seed

Pests

Slugs

Snails

Aphids

Diseases

Black death of hellebores

Hellebore leaf spot

Remove faded foliage of Helleborus plants as flowers appear (optional)

Plant in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soils

Mulch in Autumn (optional)

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (264)

Helleborus

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Helleborus (any H. x hybridus, H. orientalis, or H. niger variety)
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Helleborus (any H. x hybridus, H. orientalis, or H. niger variety) Hellebore (any H. x hybridus, H. orientalis, or H. niger variety)
Helleborus x hybridus Blue-black
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Helleborus x hybridus Blue-black Lenten rose Blue-black
Helleborus argutifolius 'Silver Lace'
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Helleborus argutifolius 'Silver Lace' Holly-leaved hellebore 'Silver Lace'
Helleborus niger 'HGC Jacob'
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Helleborus niger 'HGC Jacob' Christmas rose 'HGC Jacob'
Helleborus x hybridus 'Blue Metallic Lady' (Lady Series)
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Helleborus x hybridus 'Blue Metallic Lady' (Lady Series) Lenten rose 'Blue Metallic Lady'
Helleborus x sahinii 'Winter Bells'
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Helleborus x sahinii 'Winter Bells' Hellebore 'Winter Bells'
Helleborus x hybridus 'Pink Lady' (Lady Series)
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Helleborus x hybridus 'Pink Lady' (Lady Series) Lenten rose 'Pink Lady'
Helleborus x hybridus 'Mrs Betty Ranicar'
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Helleborus x hybridus 'Mrs Betty Ranicar' Lenten rose 'Mrs Betty Ranicar'
Helleborus x ericsmithii 'Winter Sunshine'
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Helleborus x ericsmithii 'Winter Sunshine' Hybrid hellebore 'Winter Sunshine'
Helleborus x hybridus primrose-flowered
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Helleborus x hybridus primrose-flowered Lenten rose primrose-flowered
Helleborus x ballardiae 'HGC Cinnamon Snow'
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Helleborus x ballardiae 'HGC Cinnamon Snow' Hellebore 'HGC Cinnamon Snow'
Helleborus x ballardiae 'HGC Pink Frost'
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Helleborus x ballardiae 'HGC Pink Frost' Hellebore 'HGC Pink Frost'
Helleborus x ballardiae 'December Dawn'
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Helleborus x ballardiae 'December Dawn' Hellebore 'December Dawn'
Helleborus x nigercors 'Alabaster'
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Helleborus x nigercors 'Alabaster' Hellebore 'Alabaster'
Helleborus x nigercors 'HGC Green Corsican'
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Helleborus x nigercors 'HGC Green Corsican' Hellebore 'HGC Green Corsican'
Helleborus x nigercors 'Morning's Pride'
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Helleborus x nigercors 'Morning's Pride' Hellebore 'Morning's Pride'
Helleborus x nigercors 'Pink Beauty'
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Helleborus x nigercors 'Pink Beauty' Hellebore 'Pink Beauty'
Helleborus x nigercors 'Vulcan Beauty'
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Helleborus x nigercors 'Vulcan Beauty' Hellebore 'Vulcan Beauty'
Helleborus 'Moonshine'
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Helleborus 'Moonshine' Hellebore 'Moonshine'
Helleborus orientalis 'Montsegur'
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Helleborus orientalis 'Montsegur' Lenten rose 'Montsegur'
Helleborus x hybridus Harvington double yellow
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Helleborus x hybridus Harvington double yellow Hybrid lenten rose Harvington double yellow
Helleborus x hybridus Harvington yellow
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Helleborus x hybridus Harvington yellow Hybrid lenten rose Harvington yellow
Helleborus x hybridus Hillier hybrids, burgundy
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Helleborus x hybridus Hillier hybrids, burgundy Hybrid lenten rose Hillier hybrids, burgundy
Helleborus x hybridus 'Citron'
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Helleborus x hybridus 'Citron' Hybrid lenten rose 'Citron'
Helleborus x hybridus 'Philip Ballard'
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Helleborus x hybridus 'Philip Ballard' Hybrid lenten rose 'Philip Ballard'
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Companion plants (34)

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Dennstaedtia davallioides
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Dennstaedtia davallioides Lacy ground fern
Olea europaea, ancient form
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Olea europaea, ancient form Olive, ancient form
Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata
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Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata Wild olive
Olea europaea 'Wilsonii'
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Olea europaea 'Wilsonii' Olive 'Wilsonii'
Olea europaea subsp. europaea var. sylvestris
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Olea europaea subsp. europaea var. sylvestris Wild olive
Olea europaea (any variety)
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Olea europaea (any variety) Olive (any variety)
Olea europaea 'Amfissa'
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Olea europaea 'Amfissa' Olive 'Amfissa'
Olea europaea 'Manzanillo'
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Olea europaea 'Manzanillo' Olive 'Manzanillo'
Olea europaea 'Frantoio'
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Olea europaea 'Frantoio' Olive 'Frantoio'
Olea europaea 'Ascolana'
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Olea europaea 'Ascolana' Olive 'Ascolana'
Olea europaea 'Carolea'
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Olea europaea 'Carolea' Olive 'Carolea'
Olea europaea 'Arbequina'
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Olea europaea 'Arbequina' Olive 'Arbequina'
Saxifraga x geum
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Saxifraga x geum Hairy saxifrage
Olea europaea 'Cipressino'
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Olea europaea 'Cipressino' Olive 'Cipressino'
Saxifraga (London Pride Group) 'Clarence Elliott' (umbrosa)
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Saxifraga (London Pride Group) 'Clarence Elliott' (umbrosa) London pride 'Clarence Elliott'
Olea europaea 'Swan Hill'
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Olea europaea 'Swan Hill' Olive 'Swan Hill'
Olea europaea 'Little Ollie'
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Olea europaea 'Little Ollie' Olive 'Little Ollie'
Olea europaea 'Leccino'
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Olea europaea 'Leccino' Olive 'Leccino'
Athyrium otophorum
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Athyrium otophorum Eared lady fern
Pteridium aquilinum
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Pteridium aquilinum Bracken
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Related content

Discuss Helleborus foetidus with other Shoot members

Re: helleborus foetidus

Kathy N
1057 0
Hi, Claire,
Helleborus foetidus tends to get floppy, especially in very shady conditions - they tend to prefer dappled shade and can even tolerate sun. It is doubtful the stems will root. The best way to propagate is with seed, but when the seed is ripe. It doesn't sound like the seed on your shoots had the chance to ripen so it is unlikely they will germinate. I don't think you will need to cut it back in future, but perhaps relocate to where it gets more light.
Kathy C
Posted: Monday 23rd of May 2011 09:22 PM

helleborus foetidus

Shoot User
1057 1
I've just been inspecting my Helleborus Foetidus and accidentally snapped off 2 main stems. It was getting a bit straggly (about 3 yrs old), and though I was holding the stems gently it seemed that the thick stems (nearly an inch diameter) were having trouble supporting their own weight. Some new growth is already showing at the base so the plant will continue to grow I hope, but can i plant out the small shoots showing on the main stem that has broken off?
Also, can I use the seeds that are attached to this main stem if I let them dry out (the pods are still closed)?
Should I have kept the plant's growth more in check over the last couple of years?
Many thanks
Claire
Posted: Monday 23rd of May 2011 09:24 AM Last reply: Saturday 1st of March 2025 01:01 AM
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