Slanted, pale green bells rimmed with violet nod above deep green, fan-shaped evergreen leaves, and stinking hellebore (Helleborus foetidus) only earns its name when a leaf is crushed and releases its foul scent. Once its roots run deep it will hold dry shade beneath deciduous trees, but every part of it is toxic, so handle it gloved.
| Botanical name | Helleborus foetidus |
|---|---|
| Common name | Stinking hellebore |
| Family | Ranunculaceae |
| Type | Perennial grassy flower |
| Exposure | Sun to part shade |
| Soil | Chalky, rocky, clayish, loamy, cool or dry |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Blooming | Midwinter to mid-spring |
| Height | 1–3 ft (30–80 cm) |
| Toxicity | High |
This plant is pretty common in Europe. Indeed, this herbaceous perennial grows in the wild along forest edges, in clearings and along roads, almost across the whole continent.
Stinking hellebore is a tall-stemmed hellebore that stands upright on thick, vertical stems 12 to 30 inches tall (30 to 80 cm). Large, 6 to 10 inch-long leaves are lance-shaped, clustered together to form larger fan-like structures. They have a deep green color. Flowers tend to rise far above this evergreen leafage.
When you crumple a leaf, it releases a foul, bad-smelling scent. When mature, Helleborus foetidus produces a tall, apical floral stem. The melliferous flowers are ½ to 1 inch across (1 to 3 cm). They’re shaped like slanted bells and never fully open. Their pale green color is rimmed with violet edges.
Dungwort loves growing in part sun and part shade, sheltered from wind, preferably on soil that is a bit chalky. The soil must stay cool, drain out well, and the pH range that’s best is lightly acidic to very alkaline. Very hardy (colder even than 5°F or -15 °C), stinking hellebore is an easy perennial to grow, but its growth is very slow. It needs 1 to 2 years just to settle in.
Each stem lives two seasons: leaves only at first, flowers the next, then it dies and should be cut out at the base.
Stinking hellebore is short-lived for a perennial, so leave a few self-sown seedlings in place to take over from ageing clumps.
Once its roots run deep, it copes with the dry shade under deciduous trees.
It’s best to plant stinking hellebore in spring or at the end of summer. Proceed with care, because this Helleborus species doesn’t like being transplanted.
Set the crown level with the soil surface, never buried.
On heavy clay, improve drainage across the whole bed or plant into a raised bed or mound rather than adding grit to individual holes, which can leave water sitting around the collar.
Leave a mulch-free ring around the base of the stems so the collar stays dry and airy.
Remove wilted leaves regularly. Do this especially when you start noticing flower buds. Once a flower has wilted away, you can remove the stem. You can also wait for seeds to have fallen out of the pod to do this. That’s also a good time to replace the surface soil around your hellebore: topdress with compost or very ripe manure. Also add compost to the soil during fall and spring, this will stimulate the blooming of your stinking hellebore.
Be careful! Helleborus foetidus doesn’t like sitting water, it will make its roots rot away. However, you must also strike a balance: the soil should never dry out completely over the summer.
Once it’s well settled in, you won’t have much trouble propagating your dungwort thanks to its self-sowing seeds. Ants often carry the seeds around the garden, so you can be sure to see some sprout in unexpected places! Note that a fresh, recently released seed will sprout very quickly if it’s outdoors on cool soil.
Stinking hellebore is vulnerable to black rot and its leaves occasionally show signs of black spot. As for pests, aphids and snails are its main enemies.
In olden days, the plant was considered medicinal and people tried using it to treat madness, but in reality, this is the most toxic garden plant of all. These compounds are the culprits: glucosides, helleborine, helleboreine, and saponin. All parts of the plant are toxic, and the roots are the most dangerous portion of the plant. Even simply touching the plant can lead to rashes and itchiness. Wear gloves to handle your stinking hellebore.
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