A special property makes the Christmas rose, also known as the snow rose or Christmas rose, so popular. It blooms when other flowers cannot be found in the garden: in the middle of winter. An introduction to the most beautiful varieties of Christmas rose.
Which different varieties of Christmas roses are particularly beautiful?
Christmas roses come in different varieties with flowers in white, pink, red and even black. Some beautiful varieties are Helleborus niger praecox, Helleborus niger ssp. macranthus, Helleborus niger Double Fashion, Helleborus nigercors Candy Love and Rubra Red Christmas Rose. Spring roses such as 'Rock'n Roll', Party Dress Ewelina and HGC Merlin are also popular.
Christmas roses – the popular winter bloomers
Christmas roses come in many different variations. The flowers can be double or unfilled.
The color palette ranges from pure white to delicate pink tones and dark red. Two-tone varieties are also available commercially. A special feature are varieties with almost black or white-greenish flowers.
Christmas rose or Lenten rose?
The term “Christmas rose” is often used as a generic term for all species of hellebore that bloom in winter and spring. That's not exactly correct. These are often spring roses.
The difference between Christmas roses and Lenten roses is that the flowering period of Christmas roses begins in December, while the Lenten rose blooms longer.
If you care for a Christmas rose in the garden that still bears flowers in April and later, it is most likely a Lenten rose.
A small selection of particularly beautiful varieties
| Variety name | Flower color | Height | Flowering time | Special features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helleborus niger praecox | White | up to 30 cm | December to February | very early Christmas rose |
| Helleborus niger ssp. macranthus | White inside, soft pink outside | up to 30 cm | December to February | big flowers |
| Helleborus niger Double Fashion | White filled | up to 50 cm | December to April | blooms for a very long time |
| Helleborus nigercors Candy Love | White-pink iridescent | up to 50 cm | December to April | good cut flower |
| Rubra Red Christmas Rose | Red | up to 30 cm | December to March | |
| Christmas Rose Winter Dream | White, pink outside | up to 30 cm | December to February | |
| Lenzrose 'Rock'n Roll' | double pink polka dot flowers | up to 60 cm | January to March | Lenzrose |
| Party Dress Ewelina | White-red dotted | up to 40 cm | January to March | Lenzrose |
| Spring Snow Rose ‘UK’ | first white then greenish | up to 50 cm | January to April | Lenzrose |
| HGC Merlin | Black-bluish | up to 60 cm | December to March | Lenzrose |
Tips & Tricks
The hardy Christmas rose is one of the easiest plants in the garden to care for. With its evergreen leaves, it provides color even in the cold winter. The flowers look particularly pretty when they protrude from a blanket of snow.
