The first snow has arrived here in Sweden, and with it, the end of this years gardening season. But it doesn't have to be over just yet. We do have a few plants that we associate with both winter and Christmas, poinsettias, amaryllis, and hyacinth, but these are indoor plants that can't withstand frost. But there is a plant, that is both hardy and beautiful, with an appropriate name, the Christmas rose!
The Christmas rose is one of the few plants that can withstand both frost and snow. This makes it the perfect plant to extend your outdoor garden season until your spring plants are ready to go.
What is a Christmas rose?
The Christmas rose, or Hellebora Niger, is not really a rose at all. It actually belongs to the hellebore family, which are known to be both perennial and extremely resistant to temperatures down to -15°F (-26°C).
The Christmas rose is native to the more mountainous regions of Europe, which is where it gets it's resilience from. And it is truly a beauty. Star-shaped, white or pink with lovely green leaves. The best time to plant them directly into the ground is during september/october, but if you want to make a nice arrangement for your doorstep, you can do it later. The only two times you shouldn't plant your Christmas roses is during summer, and after the soil has started to freeze up. The summertime is too hot for the seeds to germinate properly. And if the soil has started freezing, the roots will not be able to develop properly.
How to plant a Christmas rose plant, step by step:
- Start by choosing your placement. This can be done in a frost resistant pot, close to some bushes, under a tree or similar. The plant needs shade, and to stay away from direct sunlight.
- Make sure the soil is well drained and if you want, add a little bit of nutrition.
- Dig a hole double the size of the plants root ball.
- Place your plant in the hole and cover the roots with soil.
- Mound soil around the stem of the plant to protect the roots.
- Water generously.
How do I take care of the Christmas roses in my garden?
Even if Christmas roses are one of the most durable plants available, you should keep a few things in mind. The first is that it does not like direct sunlight, meaning it should be placed in direct or indirect shade. So if you have bushes or trees in your garden, place your Christmas roses close to them to give them some cover. They can also be a bit sensitive to wind, so planting close to bushes will not only help shade your plants, it will also shield them from powerful winds.
The soil for your Christmas roses can also play a part in their survival. It should be well drained and infused with compost to give it the nutrients it needs.
As for watering, it can be a bit tricky when the snow and frost has arrived. But try to make sure the roots get their water anyways. To do this, water on any frost free days. But don't overwater! They can be sensitive to waterlogging, so no need to worry if you forgot to water it for a couple days.
You can fertilize before planting, but the best time to fertilize your Christmas rose is early spring.
What else do I need to remember?
If any part of your Christmas rose wilts, cut it off! This applies to both dead flowers and leaves, anything wilted has to go. Cutting of and removing dead flowers incourages the plant to create new and healtier ones.
Snow is the other thing that you might worry about, but there really is no need. The snow works as isolation for the roots, and protects them from dying. But if there is ice or packed snow, it can be beneficial to remove it. A little snow is protecting, but too much can be suffocating for your plants.
The likelyhood of your Christmas roses getting attacked by deer and other animals are small, since the plants are toxic to most animals. This unfortionately applies to dogs and cats and other pets as well, so keep them away from your plants.
And don't worry if your plant has no flowers in the summer, as the Christmas rose needs cold to get their blooming period started.
And as previously mentioned, the Christmas rose is a perennial, meaning it can survive for many years. So if you take care of it properly, you can have beautiful flowers for year after year. To encourage more growth, divide the plants from each other every few years.
Common problems with Christmas roses
If your Christmas rose is starting to wilt or look a bit sad, there are a few things that can cause it.The most common problem is overwatering and waterlogging. Too much water will cause the roots to rot, and makes your plant wilt.
Another common issue is cold. Even though it can stand below freezing temperatures, if it gets colder than -15°F (-26°C), this can cause the flower to die.
Pests like bugs and slugs can affect your plants after winter is over, to avoid this, use a eco friendly repellent or check out our top hacks to keep pests away.
Having a flower without flowers isn't fun. And the most common reason for your Christmas rose being flowerless is overfertilizing. Even though a little bit of fertilizer can be beneficial, too much will create a plant with only leaves and no flowers.
But apart from those problems, Christmas roses are very durable and reliable flowers, that can keep your garden alive during the colder months. If you want, you can always coplant them with other evergreen plants, for a nice arrangement. I hope this has inspired you to keep that garden joy up and give Christmas roses a chance.
