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| Category: Perennial |
| Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercups) |
| Origin: Corsica (Europe) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Green Yellow |
| Bloomtime: Fall/Spring |
| Synonyms: [Helleborus lividus corsicus] |
| Height: 2-4 feet |
| Width: 2-4 feet |
| Exposure: Cool Sun/Light Shade |
| Deer Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: < 0 °F |
| May be Poisonous (More Info): Yes |
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Helleborus argutifolius (Corsican Hellebore) - This quick-growing, clumping evergreen perennial has leafy stems 2 to 4 feet tall bearing large leaves with 3 individual leaflets that are a marbled blue-green above, somewhat purplish beneath and noticeably toothed along the margins. Large light yellow-green flowers appear above the leaves in clusters from late fall to spring. Drought tolerant once it's established. It prefers full sun along coast and part shade inland and needs ample water. It is hardy to 0-10°F – considerably less hardy than most other Helleborus species. This great foliage accent plant takes on a shrub-like stature in the garden and though usually not long lived (old plants are 4-5 years old), it will often seed about to perpetuate itself in the garden. It comes from the island of Corsica and also on nearby Sardinia and while the name Helleborus argutifolius is still in review according to the The Plantlist, which lists this name as a synonym for Helleborus lividus subspecies corsicus. Others point out that the two species are geographically isolated with H. lividus coming from far to the west on the island of Majorca, and that Helleborus lividus is a considerably smaller plant with darker purple-toned-foliage. There are also known hybrids between the two species, usually called Helleborus x sternii. For now we will stick with the name Helleborus argutifolius until this debate gets fully ironed out. The name for the genus is from the Greek name for the plant as 'helleboros' and the specific epithet comes the Latin word 'argutus' meaning "sharp" and 'folius' meaning "leafed" in reference to the sharply toothed leaves.
This information about Helleborus argutifolius displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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