HELLEBORUS OR CHRISTMAS AND LENTEN ROSES. 
The Christmas Roses — continued. 
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. feBtidus and H. livteus, H. niger , H. 
orientalis, and H. Viridis, three of which 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 : 
Dujnetorum , Lax us, Bocconi , Cyclophyllus, Graveolens , Inter inedius, Cupreus , Purpurasce?is, 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 lorm, 
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 , Guttatus, Olynipicus, Pallidus , Caucasicus, Odorus, Atrorubens, Colchicus , and Abchasicus. 
GST The Christmas and Lenten Roses are well worth the attention of gardeners to grow into lajge speci- 
mens , for Conservatory decoration . 
1627 6 Lenten Roses in 6 vars. ...10/6, 15/ & 21 
1628 12 „ ,, in 12 vars. ...15/, 21/ & 30 o 
1629 18 „ „ in 18 vars. ...25/, 30/ & 42 o 
OUR OWN SELECTIONS. 
». d. 
1630 25 Lenten Roses in 25 vars. ...35/, S°/ & 6 3 
1631 6 Cluistmas Roses in 6 vars., 9/, 10/6 & 15 
1632 12 „ „ in 6 vars., 18/, 21/ & 30 
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, sec ( rardeners 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 lor 
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 sou and 
dung substituted. When the flower buds appear, protect with lights, and give plenty ol 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. 
1633 Niger (the Christmas Rose ) per doz. (according to size of plant) 5/6, 7/6, ic,6, 15/, and 21/. 
each, 6d., 9 d., 1 /, 1/6, ix 
maxim US (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 dcuk green 
leaves as for its very large rose-tinted flowers, which are pure white if opened under the 
protection of a hand-light or frame after the /lower buds appear each 1/6, 2/6 <x 3 
major (the large Christmas Rose), this is somewhat larger in flower than the type, each 1 /, x/6 « 2 
minor (the small Christmas Rose), a very distinct and very fine variety each 1 :/, 1/6 & 2 
scoticus (Miss Hope's Christmas Rose), this fine variety first found at Aberdeen, each 1/6, 2/6 <x 3 
luvernis (“St. Bridgid's " Christinas Rose), a grand plant, with large massive pale green 
leaves and leaf stalky and in this respect distinct • ••••• 3 
angustifolius (Mr. Brockbank's Christmas Rose), we recommend this variety feeling sure it 
1634 
1635 
1636 
1637 
1638 
2 $ 
1639 
1640 
1641 
will g ive satisfaction 
,.2 s. 6d. & 3 
of Bath (Bath Christmas Bose), one of the most useful, and an exceeding fine variety, is. 6 d. & 
fol. variegatis, a plant full of character 3 
THE LENTEN ROSE (HELLEBORUS ORIENTALIS). 
This section is distinguished by the old leaves remain ing on the plants till the new ones supersede them. 
J3ST Alteration in Names. — W hat we have hitherto sold as Antiquorum is Orientalis, and as Atrorubens 
is Abchasicus. 
1662 Abchasicus, rose-purple, fine robust growth per doz., 7/6, 10/6 & 15/ ; each, 91 i., 1/ & 1 6 
1643 Antiquorum, large pale purple flowers , sepals beautifully imbricated, a plant of robust growth, 
with large foliage. This we have hitherto been selling erroneously as the typical II. Orientalis, 1/ & 1 
1644 Apotheker Bogren, rich purple-rose, flowers large and imbricated 2 
1646 Caucasicus, flowers greenish white, and produced in great profusion 2 
1646 , , sulphurous, the yellow flowered Hellebore 5 
1647 Colchicus, deep plum colour, the young leaves purplish, growth robust 2 
1648 ,, cocclneus, the richest coloured variety of Hellebores., 4 
1649 ,, punctatus, deep plum colour, freely spotted all over the surface 3 
1660 Commerzlenrath Benary, white, freely spotted crimson, sepals imbricated, and blossoms neatly cupped 3 
1661 F. C. Helnemann, red-purple,/reely covered with venose dots over the interior surface, p.doz. 7/6& 10/6 1 
1662 Frau Irene Helnemann, rich purple-rose, spotted carmine-red, flowers very large 2 
1663 Gertrude bOX-gW, flowers large, pure white, the finest of all the white varieties (new) 1 0 
1664 Gretchen Helnemann, dark purple and rose, spotted red-carmine, fine form 2 
1666 Guttatus, white, spotted purple-crimson from the base one-third up the sepal • 2 
1666 ,, Lelchtllnl, white, heavily Spotted purple-crimson about two-thirds up the sepal 3 
1667 ,, sub-punctatus, large pure white flowers 1 
1668 Hofgarten-Inspector Hartwig, plum-purple, moderately spotted 2 
1669 James William Barr, flowers large, rich plum-purple, inside beautifully veined, fine compact growth, 
a grand variety (new) 7 
1660 Llvldescens, pate dull purple, tinged green inside, a very robust growing species ■■■■ 1 
1661 Olymplcus, white, a somewhat slender growing plant 'I “ 1 
1662 ,, Professor Schleicher, white, a fine variety 1 ? 
1663 ,, Willie Schmidt, white, a very fine variety 1 0 
1664 Orientalis, white, sepals closely imbricated, flowers large and bell-shaped 
1665 , , Olban Otto, white, sepals closely imbricated 1 ® 
1666 Pallidus , small white, finely formed flower ••••" 3 ° 
1667 Peter Rudolph Barr, flowers large, rich purple, inner surface spotted and veined all over, perhaps 
the handsomest variety in cultivation (new) *■•••" If, ^ r 
1668 Punctatus, purple, freely spotted all over the surface per doz., 7/6, 10/6, & 15/- ; each, 9a., r, et 1 6 
1669 Punctatlsslmus, large, light rose-purple, inside profusely spotted all overview) 7 0 
King Street, Covent Garden, 1885.] 
