Helleborus ericsmithii Magic Leaves

The Helleborus nigercors 'Magic Leaves' is a very beautiful hybrid with evergreen foliage, marbled green and white.

This perennial is the result of cross-breeding between Helleborus niger (Christmas Rose) and Helleborus argutifolius (Corsican Hellebore). From December to March, large flowers with white corollas striped with cream appear, fading to shades of purple, measuring 7 to 10 cm (3 to 4in) in diameter. The Hellebore has a bushy habit. This Hellebore is hardy down to -20°C (1°F). It has winter interest.

It is a robust plant, not too tall (30 cm (12in) in height) with very pretty dark green foliage that is evergreen and quite tough. Its basal and palmatilobate leaves (palmate leaves with slightly incised lobes) measure 10 to 30 cm (4 to 12in) in length. The foliage is evergreen. One of its main assets is its long and exuberant flowering. From the first year, more than twenty flowers already appear on the plants. New flowers continually form, providing a beautiful contrast between the blooming flowers and the faded ones.

It is perfect as a cut flower. It also provides good ground cover. It pairs well with ferns or with Iris foetidissima, lamium maculatum 'Beacon Silver' and Erythronium. It is a toxic flower. It is a sterile hybrid, and its multiplication is very difficult through vegetative propagation.