The binomial name of helleborus foetidus translates to bad smell or stinking, thus the common name of stinking hellebore. This label is misleading in that the plant only has an odor when bruised or crushed. The odor can only be picked up if you are very close and even then it is quite mild. For example, nothing as strong as the skunky odor of fritallaria. All in all, a bit of underserved press for an excellent perennial. The other common name of bear paw, or foot, refers to the shape of the individual leaves, I am told. To be honest, I can not see any association in my mind. Bearpaw is simply a better label than being referred to as stinky.
 Helleborus foetidus |
Speaking of less than favorable press, I on occasion hear remarks as to who would want a plant that blooms in green? Only those who have not seen this perennial in bloom from late December through April would ask that question.
When the weather cools down in fall and early winter, the foliage turns to an almost olive-black with a gloss. In mid-December the bloom stalks gradually emerge in chartreuse. This contrast in color and texture of foliage alone makes it a dramatic plant when all else in the garden will be some shade of brown. By mid-January the bloom stems will be close to fully extended with buds present with a few beginning to open. By mid-February they will be in full show with bell-shaped green blooms, often rimed in red. The show will continue through the end of March and into April.
H. foetidus matures quicker than some of the more well-known and popular species or hybrids. A bloom-sized plant with mature size can easily be reached within three full years for germination. Speaking of seed, this species produces copious amounts each early summer. If you do not want seedlings, clip and discard the pods before maturity. You may want to sow a few near the base of your mother plant into the third or fourth year after transplanting to the garden. After five years or so Hellebore foetidus tends to die out.
H. foetidus is one of the few species of helleborus to grow stems from the root system that have flowers at the end of individual stems. On other species, the stems carrying foliage is separate from the stems carrying flowers. Once a stem is fully mature, it blooms, begins to produce seed, its life is approaching an end. A new stem will emerge to replace the aged performer. If he old stem begins to look ratty, it can be removed at this point. If a stem is cut at any other point before bloom, that is it for that stem and food production to the roots for that part of the plant. That stem will not re-grow.
The bearpaw hellebore is quite tolerant and adaptable to soils and exposure. Constantly wet soils are it only objection. Boggy conditions cause stem rot. While not fussy about soil pH, H. foetidus will perform best in slightly sweet soils. As with any other perennial, the better the environment, the larger and more show plant one gets. Lots of light, but out of the setting afternoon sun, plenty of well-drained humus-laden soil that is mulched with chopped leaves or fine wood chips will produce plants three feet or more in height and about that is diameter. This species is also good at tolerating dry shade. I have a prime plant at the base of a mature cedar tree with the root system under a mulched path. The plant puts on a twelve month show for me since the seedling emerged in this location.
Among my favorite companions is Primula veris, the English primula with its bells of bright golden yellow. Primula vulgaris, the common primrose, comes in may bright colors that bloom from early March through late April. There are also semi and fully double forms resembling rose buds to choose. Among the natives I have as companions in my garden I like Hepatica for both the mottled foliage and blooms. Ferns are always great for contrasting textures. Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) and squirrel corn (D. canadensis) are also favored for their lacy foliage and delicate pendant white blooms.