Helleborus x ericsmithii HGC 'Monte Christo'

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Key characteristics

Family: Ranunculaceae
Height: 12 to 15 inches
Width: 18 to 24 inches
Flower color: Creamy white with green tinges, aging to pale rose and green
Foliage color: Silvery blue-green, leathery, evergreen leaves with dark red stems
Bloom time: December through early spring
Light: Partial shade to full shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low; remove old foliage before new growth emerges
Growing zone: USDA zones 5 to 9
Wildlife: Attracts early-season pollinators like bees

Perennials

Helleborus x ericsmithii HGC 'Monte Christo'

Monte Christo Lenten Rose

Helleborus x ericsmithii HGC 'Monte Christo' is a robust hybrid prized for its elegant flowers and year-round appeal. Blooming from late winter to early spring, it produces creamy white blossoms with a hint of soft green, sometimes tinged with pink as they mature. These outward-facing flowers are held above leathery, silvery-green foliage, creating a refined and harmonious display that enhances shaded garden areas or containers.

Light

Partial shade to full shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

December through early spring

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Shade Gardens
Woodland Gardens
Pollinator Gardens
Containers

Companion plants

Japanese forest grass · Astilbes · Heucheras · Siberian bugloss · Sweet woodruff · Foamflowers

Design tip

The early flowers arrive when the garden is still waking up, so give it a spot you pass often in spring. Keep it out of hot afternoon sun and layer it with woodland companions for a full, settled look.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)