Ice N' Roses® Red Hellebore

Light Needs

Part Sun to Full Sun

(5+ Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

1-2 Feet

Mature Spread

1-2 Feet

Growing Zones

5 to 9

When winter is still whispering, Ice N' Roses® Red is already in full voice—unfurling deep, wine-red blooms on sturdy, upright stems while most beds are asleep. Evergreen, leathery foliage keeps the planting fresh year-round and stays in a tight 1–2 foot clump. The long blooming window (late winter into spring) bridges the color gap between bulbs and early perennials with elegant, weatherproof flowers.

Helleborus x glandorfensis 'COSEH 4800', an interspecies hybrid, is built for longevity, especially when left undisturbed. It handles dry spells better than expected once established, as long as the site stays cool and shaded. Use it as an evergreen anchor under deciduous shrubs, along a shaded walkway, or in a winter container paired with other cool-season companions. It’s also a great choice for deer and rabbit pressure gardens.

Ice N' Roses® Red Hellebore Care

Give Ice N' Roses® Red filtered sun to partial shade; morning sun and afternoon shade are a strong setup in Zone 7. Plant in organically rich, moist, well-drained soil, and keep the crown at soil level so it doesn’t sit wet. Slightly acidic to neutral soil works well.

Water regularly the first growing season so the roots establish, then water during dry stretches, especially in spring when buds are forming. Avoid soggy conditions in winter, which can damage hellebores. After bloom, apply an acid-forming fertilizer or a light top-dressing of compost.

In early spring, remove old, faded leaves to show off the flowers and reduce disease carryover. After flowering, you can clip spent stems if you want a cleaner look, but avoid digging or dividing unless you have a strong reason. We've found division can be difficult and often sets the plant back. Mulch around the plant to protect roots, keeping mulch pulled back from the crown.

Ice N' Roses® Red Hellebore Spacing

Space plants about 18–24 inches apart so each clump can widen without crowding and air can move through the foliage. For containers, use a pot at least 14–16 inches wide with excellent drainage so the root zone stays lightly moist, not saturated.

Grow Ice N' Roses® Red with lungwort and coral bells for layered foliage that carries the bed after hellebore bloom, and tuck in hostas behind for summer volume. In containers, combine it with primrose early, then swap to begonias once nights warm, keeping the hellebore as the evergreen backbone.

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