Plant encyclopedia›American hellebore

American hellebore

Also known as: bear cabbage; crow poison; green false helleborine; itchweed; meadow poke; North American white hellebore; pokeroot; puppet root; swamp hellebore; wild hellebore; earth gall; green hellebore; Indian poke; pepper root

A clump-forming, decidous perennial with oval to elliptic, pleated leaves up to 30cm long with hairy undersides arranged spirally around stout stems. Small green to yellowish-green flowers to 2cm across are borne on branching sprays in summer

Scientific classification

Species: American hellebore (Veratrum viride)
Genus: Veratrum
Family: Melanthiaceae

TOXIC if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Toxicity: Herbaceous Perennial
Plant type: 1.5-2.5 metres
Height: 0.1-0.5 metres
Spread: Deciduous
Foliage: Clump forming
Habit: Spring · Summer · Autumn
Season of interest: Partial shade · Full sun
Sunlight: Information to be completed
Ideal temperature

American hellebore pictures

Distribution of American hellebore

Distribution map

Information to be completed

Culture

Information to be completed

Toxicity

TOXIC if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling

Quick identification of American hellebore

Information to be completed

American hellebore care guide

Moderate regular watering, allowing brief slight drying between soakings
Watering: Partial shade · Full sun
Sunlight: Information to be completed
Ideal temperature

Watering

Moderate regular watering, allowing brief slight drying between soakings

Fertilizing

Balanced perennial feed every four weeks from spring through summer

Pruning

No pruning required

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by division

Growing

Grow in a sheltered position in rich, deep, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil, in partial shade; will grow in full sun if the soil is moist, but the foliage will be healthiest in shade

More growing and care information →