Plant profile
- Botanical name: Helleborus niger
- Order: Buttercups (Ranunculales)
- Family: buttercups
- Genus: hellebore
- Habit: clump-forming perennial
- Height: 10 to 30 centimeters
- Main flowering time: December to March
- Leaves: 4 to 9 times divided, evergreen
- Flower: single flower
- Flower color: white, pink
Special features:
You can easily propagate Christmas roses yourself:
- Do the discolor seeds formed after flowering brown, sow these in small pots.
- Do not cover the seeds with soil as the Christmas rose is a light germ.
- Keep the substrate slightly moist but not too wet.
- Germination usually only takes place in the following winter.
- It can take two to three years for flowers to form.
also read
- As a cat owner, it is better not to grow Christmas roses
- Growing Christmas roses from seeds - this is how sowing works
- Christmas roses are among the highly poisonous ornamental plants
origin
The natural distribution area of the snow rose are the eastern northern and southern Alps. Christmas roses can also be found in the Apennines and the northern Balkans. Here it thrives at altitudes of up to 1900 meters, preferably on bushy slopes and in light forest areas.
Location and soil
The Christmas rose loves well-drained, nutrient-rich and humus-rich soils that must not be too dry. Pay attention to a high lime content, which is an important growth factor for the Christmas rose. A drainage layer made of lime gravel is recommended, which also ensures that water can run off easily.
A partially shaded spot under a deciduous tree or bush that can only be reached by the sun for a few hours is ideal. Leave falling leaves lying around, because they form a protective blanket, which the snow rose is very comfortable with.
Watering and fertilizing
In sunny locations, the Christmas rose is grateful for occasional watering. Make sure, however, that waterlogging does not form, as this quickly leads to root rot and the plant dies.
Diseases and pests
The snow rose is susceptible to harmful fungi, which can lead to weak growth and stunted leaves. A slight infestation of aphids is rather rare after flowering, when it gets warmer.
Tips
Therefore, the pretty winter bloomer should not be planted in places that are accessible to children or pets. Allergy sufferers should also be careful and wear gloves when coming into contact with the plant. The escaping sap of the snow rose can cause unpleasant skin irritation.
