26 
CHRISTMAS AND LENTEN ROSES (HELLEBORUS). 
HELLEBORUS OR CHRISTMAS AND LENTEN ROSES. 
Christmas and Lenten Roses are hardy Winter-flowering plants, covered with blossoms at a period of the 
year, when plants in flower out-doors, are a rarity. In this family there is much variety, both in flower and 
ioliage, and established plants in flower borders and on rockwork, are highly decorative. 
hrorn the H. orientalis group have originated some beautiful sorts, and from the new varieties of this section 
of Lenten Roses we have catalogued some important additions, which will be found highly decorative, either out- 
of-doors, or in the greenhouse. The nine varieties of H. orientalis figured in the coloured plate of " The 
I ^ tl * Hy> l8 79> «™d subsequently the five varieties figured in the coloured plate which appeared in 
I he Florist and Pomologist,” afford some idea of the advances made in this family. These two coloured 
plates will be forwarded for is. 6 d. 
• ^Ir. ^ oore * Curator of the Chelsea Botanic Gardens, studied the Helleborus family in conjunction 
with Mr. Barr for several seasons, and in " The Gardeners' Chronicle” of 1879, gave descriptions of thirty-five 
species and varieties of Helleborus, then flowering in our grounds, and in April, 1881, he contributed another paper 
on New Helleborus. In " The Gardeners' Chronicle ," 1877, there is a comprehensive monograph by Mr. Baker, 
01 Kew. In ''I he 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. 
635“ The Christmas and Lenten Roses make good pot-plants, and are well worth the attention of gardeners 
to grow into large specimens, for Conservatory decoration. 
Quantity. 
6 Lenten Roses in 6 vars. ...10/6, 15/ & 21 
12 ,, in 12 vars 15/, 21/ & 30 
„ in 18 vars. ...25/, 30/ & 42 
OUR OWN SELECTIONS. 
18 
d. Quantity. s. d. 
0 25 Lenten Roses in 25 vars. ...35/, 50/ & 63 0 
0 6 Christmas Roses in 6 vars. , 9/, 10/6, & 15 0 
0 12 ,, in 6 vars., 18/, 21/ & 30 0 
THE CHRISTMAS ROSE (HELLEBORUS NIGER). 
Plants supplied from October to March. 
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. 
.Niger (the Christmas Rose), according to the size of the plants ...per doz., 7/6 and 10/6, each, 9 d. & 1 o 
»» maximus (the Great Christmas Rose), figured in '* The Garden f 1878, under the name of 
Helleborus allifolius. 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 white if opened under the 
protection of a hand-light or frame, after the flower buds appear each 1/6, 2/6 & 
major (the large Christmas Rose), this is somewhat larger in flower than the type , , 1/, 1/6 & 
minor (the small Christmas Rose), a very distinct and very fine variety each 1/6 & 
( l\/T~ n . , /- z. „ • ^ u \ j .1 ■ « 
angustifolius (Mr. Brockbank' s, Christmas Rose), we can recommend this variety ,, 2/6 & 
The Bath Christmas Rose, one cf the most useful, an exceedingly fine variety ,, t/6 & 
Caucasicus, floivers snow-white, outside of petals tinned rose, fragrant ,, 1/6 & 
Madame Fourcade, large pure white flowers 
rubra, flouers rosy white, outside of petals purple-red, a fine late-flowering variety ,, 2/6 & 
fol. variegatis, the young leaves of this plant, are full of character ,, 
THE LENTEN ROSE (HELLEBORUS ORIENTALIS). 
Plants supplied from October to March. 
This section is distinguished by the o’d leaves remaining on the plants till the new ones supersede them. 
... Abchasicus, rose-purple, fine robust growth per doz., 7/6, 10/6 & 15/ ; each, 9 d., i/ C & 1* 
Antiquorum, large pale purple flowers, sepals beautifully imbricated ; a plant of robust growth, 
with large foliage. This is usually sold, erroneously, as the typical H. Orientalis 1/ & 1 
Apotheker Bogren, rich purple-rose, flowers large and imbricated \ 2 
••• Caucasicus, flowers greenish white, and produced in great profusion 2 
sulphureus, the yellow-flowered Hellebore !!!"!!!!!!"’.’" e 
••• Colchlcus, deep plum colour, the young leaves purplish, growth robust 2 
*» coccineus, the richest coloured variety of all the Hellebores 4 
. ,, punctatus, deep plum colour, freely spotted all over the surface q 
’ r°? 1 ?r ei i Z * enrattl Benary » "white, freely spotted crimson, sepals imbricated, a nd blossoms neatly cupped 5 
.. F. C. Heinemann, red-purple, freely covered with venose dots over the interior surface , p.doz. 7/6 & 10/6 1 o 
. . Frau Irene Heinemann, rich purple-rose, spotted carmine-red , flowers very large 2 6 
... Gertrude Jekyll (new), flowers large, pure white, the finest of all the white varieties 7 6 
. Guttatus, white, spotted purple-crimson from the base one-third up the sepal. 2 6 
,, Leichtlini, white, heavily spotted purple- crimson about two-thirds up the sepal q 6 
,, sub-punctatus, large pure white flowers 2 6 
Hofgarten Inspector Hart wig, plum-purple, moderately spotted ! 5 
.. Lividescens, pale dull purple, tinged green inside, a very robust growing species p.doz. 7/6 o 0 
.. Olympicup, white, a somewhat slender growing plant . '•■>/& 1 6 
,, Professor Schleicher, white, a fine variety j 5 
.. Orientalis, white, stfals closely imbricated, flowers large and bell-shaped q 6 
»» Olban Otto, white, sepals closely imbricated ! 5 
.. Pallidus, white, a small finely formed flower ' _ £ 
Peter Rudolph Barr (new), flowers large, rich purple, inner surface spotted and veined all over, 
perhaps the handsomest variety in cultivation e g 
" ^ unc J a ^ 3 > purple, freely spotted all over the surface per doz., 5/6, 7/6, & 10/6; each, ad. & 1 o 
.. Punctatisslmuo (new), flowers large, light rose-purple, inside profusely spotted all over 7 6 
.. Roseus, deep rose, free-flowering and showy / ’ £ g 
.. ,, punctatus, deep rose, inside freely spotted, free-flowering and showy j 6 
.. Ruberi8simus, red-purple, fine furtn, red flower stem o 6 
.. Seedlings, strong plants, from the finest varieties of Orientalis. IVe can recommend these, per doz. ,15/- 1 6 
