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Helleborus niger - L.
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Common Name
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Black Hellebore
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Family
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Ranunculaceae
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Synonyms
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Known Hazards
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All parts of the plant are poisonous[9, 10, 65], this poison can possibly be absorbed through the skin[76]. The fresh root can be a violent irritant to sensitive skin[244].
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Habitats
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Woods and thickets, mainly in mountains, on calcareous soils[50, 187]. Sometimes also found in grassland[187].
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Range
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S.E. and C. Europe.
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Edibility Rating
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Medicinal Rating
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Care
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Physical Characteristics
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Helleborus niger is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in).
It is hardy to zone 3 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf 12-Jan It is in flower from Jan to February, and the seeds ripen from May to June. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, flies.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.
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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Illustration_Helleborus_niger0.jpg |
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| http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Wildfeuer |
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Habitats
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Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Ground Cover;
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Medicinal Uses
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Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Anthelmintic; Antiemetic; Cardiac; Cathartic; Diuretic; Emetic; Emmenagogue; Homeopathy; Irritant; Miscellany; Narcotic;
Parasiticide; Purgative.
Black hellebore is a very poisonous plant that is toxic when taken in all but the smallest doses. As such it should not be taken except under professional supervision. The plant contains cardiac glycosides which have a similar action to the foxglove (Digitalis spp) and it has been used as a heart stimulant for the elderly, though this treatment is no longer recommended[254]. The root is anthelmintic, cardiac, cathartic, diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue, irritant, violently narcotic and a drastic purgative[4, 9, 21, 46, 240]. It is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[4]. It has been used in the treatment of dropsy, amenorrhoea, nervous disorders and hysteria, but it is very poisonous and great care must be taken over the dosage[4]. The root is also applied externally as a local irritant[4], but even this should be done with care, see notes above on toxicity. A homeopathic remedy is made from the roots[9]. It is used in the treatment of headaches, psychic disorders, enteritis and spasms[9].
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Other Uses
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Miscellany; Parasiticide.
Used as a parasiticide against body lice, fleas etc[76]. This use is somewhat dangerous, see the notes above on toxicity. The powdered root has been used as a snuff[245]. Plants are suitable for ground cover when spaced about 45cm apart each way[208].
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Cultivation details
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Cultivation of this plant is not always easy, it prefers a rich limy soil in partial shade[187]. Succeeds in any good garden soil[1], growing and flowering best in a moist well-drained rich loam in a sheltered position in partial shade[1, 4, 31, 111, 244]. Succeeds when grown in the shade of a north-facing wall[233]. Does not object to lime[1]. Grows well in heavy clay soils[200]. Dislikes drought. Slugs are very fond of this plant and it will probably require some protection from them[187]. The various species in this genus hybridize freely[95]. Plants can flower in three years from seed[4]. A very ornamental plant, there are many named varieties[187]. Plants resent root disturbance and are slow to re-establish when divided[244]. They are best left undisturbed for 6 - 7 years before being divided[244]. Seedling plants should be placed in their permanent positions whilst still small[200]. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[54].
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Propagation
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Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[1, 134]. Sow stored seed as early in the year as possible[1], it usually germinates in the autumn to spring. Seed can take 18 months to germinate. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. This species produces flowering plants in 2 - 3 years from seed[200]. Division after flowering or in autumn. Take care since the plant resents disturbance[111, 200].
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 You can download this page as a PDF
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Botanical References
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50200
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Links / References
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[1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
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Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
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[4]Grieve. A Modern Herbal.
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Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
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[9]Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants.
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Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information.
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[21]Lust. J. The Herb Book.
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Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.
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[31]Brown. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland.
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[46]Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants.
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An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
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[50]? Flora Europaea
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An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.
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[54]Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds.
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Interesting reading.
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[76]Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man.
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Concentrates mainly on the effects of poisonous plants to livestock.
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[95]Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada.
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Useful wild plants of America. A pocket guide.
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[111]Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials.
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A fairly wide range of perennial plants that can be grown in Britain and how to grow them.
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[134]Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2.
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Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. An interesting article on Ensete ventricosum.
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[187]Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2.
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Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.
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[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
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Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
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[208]Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover
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An excellent detailled book on the subject, very comprehensive.
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[233]Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants
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A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
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[240]Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
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Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
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[244]Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs
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Deals with all types of herbs including medicinal, culinary, scented and dye plants. Excellent photographs with quite good information on each plant.
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[245]Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World.
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An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.
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[254]Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
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An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
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Subject : Helleborus niger
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