Veratrum album

These are striking, yet rarely encountered plants that we are thrilled to offer! They are quite difficult to propagate and represent years of work. Despite difficulty with propagation, they are easy to grow, though flowering can take several years. Best grown in full sun to dappled shade on moist, rich soil.

European White Hellebore is a sculpture plant that can be found growing in hillside pastures, damp grasslands, and mountain creeks in Europe, East Asia, and Alaska. The pleated leaves resemble hostas, but are more elegant. The white and green flowers resemble those of hellebore but are held in multitude on tall spikes.

WARNING: This plant has a long history of medicinal use, but should not be toyed with. The roots are extremely toxic and have caused many deliberate and accidental deaths.

Distinctions: Winner of an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticulture Society

Zones: 4 to 7

Family: Melanthiaceae

Type: Perennial

Height: 36 to 48 in.

Spread: 30 to 42 in.

Exposure: Full Sun, part-shade

Soil Conditions: Average

Bloom Time: July to August

Bloom Color: greenish-white

Native Range: Europe and parts of western Asia

Image Credits:

• Image 1 (blooms) Uoaei1, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
• Image 2 (form) User:Tigerente, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons
• Image 3 (foliage)Daniel78, CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons