Helleborus niger 'Snow Frills'

Snow Frills Christmas Rose

Family: Ranunculaceae
Height: 8 to 14 in
Width: 12 to 18 in
Flower color: Pure white double blooms with a cluster of yellow stamens in the center
Foliage color: Glossy, dark green evergreen leaves
Bloom time: Late autumn through winter into early spring
Light: Partial shade to shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low; cut back old or tattered foliage just before new growth and flowers appear
Growing zone: USDA zones 4 to 9
Wildlife: Early-season flowers provide nectar and pollen for early pollinators (such as bees)

About this plant

Helleborus niger 'Snow Frills' is a broadleaf evergreen perennial with glossy, dark green leaves and an abundance of double, pure-white, outward-facing flowers. The blossoms have ruffled petals and a gentle central cluster of pale stamens. Flowering typically begins in late winter and continues into early spring, bringing delicate winter-to-spring color to shaded garden beds, woodland gardens, or along walkways.

This plant is part of the 'Gold Collection' of selected cultivars and is valued for its dependable bloom habit and elegant winter-season interest. 'Snow Frills' produces successive waves of buds and flowers, often giving a long season of bloom. Evergreen foliage combined with crisp white double flowers makes it suitable for winter containers, woodland carpets, or sheltered borders where its flowers and leaves can be appreciated close up.

Works well in

Borders · Shade Gardens · Woodland Gardens · Pollinator Gardens · Rock Gardens

Companion plants

Epimediums · Hostas · Bleeding hearts · Solomon's seal · Ferns · Lungworts

Design tip

Flowers in the quietest months make this worth a sheltered spot within sight of a window or door. Cooler light suits it, so tuck it on the north side of a shrub or wall where the soil stays even.

Where to see it

This plant can be seen at the Center for Urban Horticulture.