36 
HELLEBORUS OR CHRISTMAS AND LENTEN ROSES. 
HELLEBORUS OR CHRISTMAS AND LENTEN ROSES. 
The Christmas and Lenten Roses are the representatives of Winter flowers. In the family there is great 
variety, both in the flower and foliage. On rockwork and in flower-borders established plants are highly decora- 
tive, covered as they are with blossoms at a time when outdoor flowers are scarce. 
From the H. orientalis section has originated some beautiful sorts, and the new varieties of this section oj 
Lenten Roses which we catalogue are important additions, and will be found highly decorative in the flower garden, 
or cultivated in pots for greenhouse decoration. The nine varieties of //. orientalis figured in the coloured 
plate of The Garden, 19th July, 1879, fairly represent the family at that time. A supply of these coloured 
plates have been secured, so that any of our customers who have not seen the plate, and intend purchasing these 
plants, can have it forwarded free on application ; otherwise the plates can be had, is. each. 
Mr. Moore, Curator of the Chelsea Botanic Gardens, has been studying the Helleborus family in conjunction 
with Mr. Barr during the past few seasons, and has issued with The Florist and Pomologist a coloured 
plate of new varieties, which we trust will be followed shortly by a popular monograph. In The Gardeners' 
Chronicle of 1879, Mr. Moore gave descriptions of thirty-five species and varieties of Helleborus then in flower 
at our grounds, and in April, 1881, contributed another paper on New Helleborus, and in The Gardeners' 
Chronicle, 18 77, there is a comprehensive monograph by Mr. Baker, of Kew. In The Garden, 1878, there 
is a monograph, accompanied by a plate of Helleborus maximus. It will, therefore, be seen that this family has 
received considerable attention from the Horticultural press. 
The genus Helleborus has six representative species or heads of families, viz. : — H. vesicarius, of Mount 
Cassius, near Antioch, a plant not yet introduced into cultivation ; H. feetidus , H. lividus, H. niger , H. orie?i- 
talis, and H. Viridis, the three last named are illustrated in the coloured plate which accompanied The Garden 
of 19th July, 1879. Mr. Baker in his monograph recognizes as geographical varieties of the type Viridis : 
Dumetorum , Laxus, Bocconi, Cyclophyllus , Graveolens , Intermedins, Cupreus, Purpurascens, and to these we 
add a charming dove-purple coloured species, named by Mr. Archer-Hinde Torquatus. The Orientalis group 
has the leaves coriaceous and persistent, with a polished green surface, and the segments generally conspicu- 
ously toothed ; the flowers are usually large, the sepals frequently imbricated and assuming a bell shaped form, 
surmounted on stems two or three times forked, thus forming a showy branched panicle of flowers, which range 
in colour from the richest crimson to white. The geographical varieties of the type Orientalis are Anti- 
quorum, Guttaius , Olympicus, Pallidus, Caucasicus, Odorus, Atrorubens, Colchicus, and Abchasicus. 
The Christmas and Lenten Roses make good pot plants, and are well worth the attention of gardeners 
to grow into la?ge specimens , for Conservatory decoration . 
OUR OWN 
$. d. 
1671 6 Lenten Roses in 6 vars. ...10/6, 15/ & 21 o 
1672 12 „ „ in 12 vars. ...15/, 21/ & 30 o 
1673 18 „ „ in 18 vars. ...25/, 30/ & 42 o 
SELECTIONS. 
*. d. 
1674 25 Lenten Roses in 25 vars. ...35/, 50/ & 63 o 
1675 6 Christmas Roses in 6 vars., 9/, 10/6 & 15 o 
1676 12 „ „ in 6 vars., 18/, 21/ & 30 o 
THE CHRISTMAS ROSE (HELLEBORUS NIGER). 
In the gardening papers there has been a good deal of discussion relating to the varieties of the Christmas 
Rose, and more especially “ St. Bridgid's'' and Mr. Brockbank's Christmas Roses, see Gardeners' Chronicle, 
January 19th, 1884, &c., also The Garden. Specimen plants of each we received direct from headquarters, and 
have no hesitation in saying they are not the same. 
The Christmas Rose is in flower during December and January. To have the blossoms pure white for 
Christmas decoration, the plants should be protected at the time of flowering. A hand-light, resting on bricks, 
will be sufficient for a large specimen ; but when a great number of flowers are required, a temporary pit should 
be made, the natural soil, if unsuitable, removed, and a mixture of loam and rotten dung, or loam, leaf soil and 
dung substituted. When the flower buds appear, protect with lights, and give plenty of air, but dispense with 
the lights as soon as possible after the flowering season. For naturalization and wild gardens, the Christmas 
Rose is a grand plant. each— s. d. 
1677 Niger ( the Christmas Rose) per doz. (according to the size of the plants), 5/6, 7/6, 10/6, 15/, and 21/. 
each, 6 d., 9 d., 1 /, 1/6, & 2 6 
maximus {the Great Christmas Rose), figured in “ The Garden,'’ 1878, under the name of 
Helleborus altifolius. This is a grand species , and is as remarkable for its large dark green 
leaves as for its very large rose-tinted flowers, which are pure while ij opened under the 
protection of a hand-light or frame after the flower buds appear each 1/6, 2/6 & 3 6 
major {the large Christmas Rose), this is somewhat larger in flower than the type , each 1/, 1/6 & 2 6 
minor {the small Christmas Rose), a very distinct and very fine variety each 1/, 1/6 & 2 6 
scotlcus {Miss Hope's Christmas Rose), this fine variety was found at Aberdeen, each 1/6, 2/6 & 3 6 
angustifolius {Mr. Brockbank' s, Christmas Rose), we recommend this variety, feeling sure it 
will give satisfaction 2 s. 6 d. & 3 6 
The Bath Christmas Rose, one of the most useful, an exceedingly fine variety is. 6 d. & 2 6 
Caucasicus, flowers snow-white, outside of petals tinged rose, fragrant is. 6 d. & 2 6 
Madame Fourcade, large pure white flowers 2 6 
rubra, flowers rosy white , outside of petals purple-red, late-flowering 2 6 
fol. variegatis, the young leaves of this plant are full of character 3 6 
1678 
1679 
1680 
1681 
1682 
1683 
1684 
1685 
1686 
1687 
THE LENTEN ROSE (HELLEBORUS ORIENTALIS). 
This section is distinguished by the old leaves remaining on the plants till the new ones supersede them. 
Alteration in Names. — What we have hitherto sold as Antiquorum is Orientalis, and as Atrorubens 
is Abchasicus. 
1688 Abchasicus, rose-purple, fine robust growth per doz., 7/6, 10/6 & 15/ ; each, qd., 1/ & 1 6 
1689 Antiquorum, large pale purple flowers, sepals beautifully imbricated ; a plant of robust growth, 
with lagre foliage. This we have hitherto been selling erroneously as the typical H. Orientalis, 1 1 & 16 
1690 Apotheker Bogren, rich purple-rose, flowers large and imbricated 2 6 
1691 Caucasicus, flowers greenish white, and produced in great profusion 2 6 
1692 ,, sulphureus, the yellow flowered Hellebore 5 6 
1693 Colchicus, deep plum colour , the young leaves purplish, growth robust 2 6 
1694 „ coccineus, the richest coloured variety of Hellebores 4 6 
1695 ,, punctatus, deep plum colour, freely spotted all over the surface 3 6 
1696 Commerzienrath Benary, white, freely spotted crimson, sepals imbricated , and blossoms neatly cupped 3 6 
[ Barr and Son, 
