Christmas rose

Christmas rose: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Low, compact clump about 30 cm tall and 45 cm wide.

Leaves

Leathery, dark green and divided like a hand into 7–9 segments toothed at the tip; evergreen.

Flower

Saucer-shaped, 5–8 cm across, one to three per stem, from December to March.

Colour

Pure white with yellow stamens; after pollination the flowers turn pink or greenish.

Roots

Thick, black and deeply branched: it resents being moved.

Flowering: December–March · Plants: March–April and September–October · Pruning: December–January

Why grow it?

• Flowers from December to March, while the rest of the garden is resting.
• Evergreen leaves that give structure to shady spots all year.
• An early food source for bumblebee queens and other bees on mild winter days.
• Very long-lived: in a good spot it lasts for decades.
• Thrives in partial and full shade under shrubs and trees.

Christmas rose: where does it grow best?

• Partial or full shade, for example under deciduous shrubs: light in winter, cool in summer.
• Humus-rich, neutral to chalky soil: loam or clay. On acid soil, add a little lime.
• Normally moist soil that does not dry out in summer or stay wet in winter.
• Choose its permanent spot from the start, as it will stay for years. Plant 40–45 cm apart.
• Near the house or beside a path you will enjoy the winter flowers most.

Light

Partial shade and shade

Soil type

Loam or clay

Acidity

Neutral or chalky

Moisture

Normal

Size

0.3 m tall, 0.45 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -30 °C)

Goes well with

• Snowdrop: White bells that flower at the same time in the same shade.
• Winter aconite: Small yellow flowers in February, also happy on chalky soil.
• Barrenwort: An elegant ground cover for the same partial shade under shrubs.
• Ferns: Fresh foliage in summer, when the Christmas rose stays quietly in the background.

Christmas rose: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April and September–October.

1. Plant in March–April or September–October.
2. Dig a wide, deep hole and mix in compost or leaf mould; on acid soil add a handful of lime too.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as in the pot, no deeper.
4. Leave 40–45 cm between plants.
5. Firm in and water well straight away.
6. Mulch with leaf mould: it keeps the soil cool and stops rain splashing mud onto the flowers.

Care

Water

Regularly in dry spells during the first year; later, water now and then in dry summers.

Feeding

After flowering in spring, a layer of compost or a little organic fertiliser.

Mulching

A layer of leaf mould in autumn keeps the soil rich in humus and the flowers clean.

Old leaves

In winter, cut off old and spotted leaves so the flowers are clearly visible.

Leave alone

Do not disturb it: it dislikes being moved or divided.

Tip: Choose a spot where it can stay for years, in partial shade on humus-rich, chalky soil. Cut away the old leaves in winter so the white flowers show at their best.

Christmas rose: when to prune it?

Pruning months: December–January.

When: There is little pruning to do. In December–January, as the flower buds appear, cut off old and damaged leaves.

How:

• Cut old, spotted or broken leaves off at the base; healthy leaves can stay.
• Take care not to damage the flower buds and young leaves.
• After flowering, cut off the spent flower stems if you do not want seedlings.
• Put spotted leaves in the household waste, not on the compost heap.

Caution: Wear gloves: the sap can irritate the skin and all parts are poisonous.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Seed

In June, sow fresh seed straight away in a pot of seed compost and stand it outdoors in the shade. The seed only germinates after winter; seedlings flower after three years or more.

Division

Only for large, old clumps: in September, lift carefully and split into pieces, each with a few buds. It often flowers less the following year.

Christmas rose: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −30 °C.

• Fully hardy, to about −30 °C: no protection is needed.
• In hard frost the flowers and stems flop; they stand up again when it thaws.
• For spotless white flowers, place a glass cloche or cold frame light over the plant during flowering to keep off mud and rain.
• In a pot: stand it in a sheltered spot and make sure the pot does not sit in water.

Diseases and pests

• Leaf spot: Round, blackish-brown spots on leaves and flowers, especially in wet weather. Cut off and dispose of affected leaves and give the plant an airy spot.
• Aphids: On flowers and young leaves in spring. Ladybirds usually clear them; otherwise spray them off with water.
• Slugs: They eat holes in flowers and buds. Pick them off in the evening or set a beer trap.
• No flowers: Plants too young, recently moved, planted too deep or too little light in winter. After moving, it often takes 1–2 years to flower well again.

Through the year

• January: In flower. Cut off old and spotted leaves.
• February: In flower. Watch for slugs.
• March: Last flowers. Add compost. Plant.
• April: Plant. New leaves appear; watch for aphids.
• June: Collect seed and sow straight away in a pot.
• July: Water in dry spells.
• September: Plant. Carefully divide large clumps if needed.
• October: Plant. Mulch with leaf mould.
• November: Flower buds appear. Keep an eye out for slugs.
• December: First flowers. Cut off old leaves.

Edible and useful

Not edible. All parts of hellebores and Christmas roses are poisonous, to pets too; the sap can irritate the skin. Wear gloves when cutting off old leaves or dividing the plant, and do not eat any of it. If any is swallowed, call a poison centre (in Belgium 070 245 245) or your doctor at once.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• The name niger means ‘black’ and refers to the black roots, not the white flowers.
• What look like petals are actually sepals. That is why the flower stays attractive for weeks and changes colour after pollination.
• In the Alps it grows wild in beech and conifer woods on limestone.