Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Helleborus argutifolius (Holly-leaved hellebore)
1 hour care
per year
per year
1.2m
Max height
Max height
0.9m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Helleborus argutifolius
Other names
Corsican hellebore, Helleborus corsicus, Helleborus lividus subsp. corsicus , Holly-leaved hellebore, Corsican hellebore
Genus
Helleborus Helleborus
Species
H. argutifolius - H. argutifolius is a clump-forming, evergreen perennial with pinnate leaves divided into elliptic, spiny-toothed, dark green leaflets and biennial flowering stems bearing clusters of nodding, bowl-shaped, pale green flowers in late winter and early spring.
Helleborus argutifolius is: Evergreen
Habit
Clump-forming
Toxicity
Ingestion may cause severe discomfort; skin irritant.
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Flower
Greenish-white in Spring
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Aphids , Slugs , Snails Aphids , Slugs , Snails
Black death of hellebores , Hellebore leaf spot Black death of hellebores , Hellebore leaf spot
General care
Pruning
Remove faded or damaged foliage as the flowers appear.
Propagation methods
Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Helleborus argutifolius (Holly-leaved hellebore) will reach a height of 1.2m and a spread of 0.9m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Cottage/Informal, Flower Arranging, Beds and borders, Underplanting
Cultivation
Grow in moist, fertile, humus-rich, neutral to alkaline soil in partial shade. Tolerates full sun. Suitable for heavy clay. For best results, provide shelter from strong, cold winds and mulch annually in autumn.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Helleborus argutifolius
Other names
Corsican hellebore, Helleborus corsicus, Helleborus lividus subsp. corsicus , Holly-leaved hellebore, Corsican hellebore
Genus
Helleborus Helleborus
Species
H. argutifolius - H. argutifolius is a clump-forming, evergreen perennial with pinnate leaves divided into elliptic, spiny-toothed, dark green leaflets and biennial flowering stems bearing clusters of nodding, bowl-shaped, pale green flowers in late winter and early spring.
Native to
Corsica, Sardinia
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Clump-forming
Toxicity
Ingestion may cause severe discomfort; skin irritant.
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Greenish-white in Spring
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Specific diseases
Black death of hellebores , Hellebore leaf spot
General care
Pruning
Remove faded or damaged foliage as the flowers appear.
Propagation methods
Seed
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Helleborus argutifolius (Holly-leaved hellebore) will reach a height of 1.2m and a spread of 0.9m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Cottage/Informal, Flower Arranging, Beds and borders, Underplanting
Cultivation
Grow in moist, fertile, humus-rich, neutral to alkaline soil in partial shade. Tolerates full sun. Suitable for heavy clay. For best results, provide shelter from strong, cold winds and mulch annually in autumn.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4, Zone 3
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
Designed by garden designer Helen Elks-Smith MSGD. Traditional with a contemporary twist, this garden located on the outskirts of London is designed for relaxed family living and informal… read more
This garden by Chris Beardshaw reflects Morgan Stanley’s longstanding commitment to the wellbeing of children. read more
By Reading based MSGD garden designer Andrea Newill. A contemporary sloping garden around a generous level terrace within the sloping site, laid with sawn, contemporary beige limestone to tie in… read more
By London based garden designer Pippa Schofield. The brief for this garden was to change the whole way the garden was organised. read more
Garden designer Judi Samuels provides a Spring flowering border plan for a shady border. This planting is suitable for free draining soil. read more
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login
DISCUSS THIS PLANT
Euphorbia
Euphorbia
Euphorbia
wrong photo?
There are 2 active discussions about Helleborus argutifolius (Holly-leaved hellebore)
View all discussions