HELLEBORE CHRISTMAS ROSE (Helleborus niger), also known as Black Hellebore, is the oldest of the hellebores, and produces a five-petal waxy white to pinkish white blossom against a mound of deep blackish/green evergreen foliage. Grows about a foot high and the flowers have a nodding habit. Bloom time is around Christmas (no guarantees, it might be later) and is a blessing indeed! Each bloom lasts for several weeks. I am especially fond of this flower because it comes from my grandparent's native Northern Italy. Perennial. 10 Seeds. Limited Quantity.

HISTORY: Originating in Europe, the poisonous root was used medicinally to treat insanity, gout, and paralysis and in magic - both to ward off evil spirits and by sorcerers for cloak of invisibility! This stuff is extremely toxic and nasty - please do not experiment. Historians believe that Alexander the Great died from a hellebore overdose!

GROWING TIPS: Start with bottom heat and dome to provide humity for at least 6 weeks. Then you are going to gradually wean it to cooler clime, ultimately putting it in the fridge for a while. This should break the seed's dormancy and when you remove from fridge, they should germinate. When they are about 2" high, acclimate gradually to the outdoors and plant in permannet position. They take two years to bloom. Slower to establish itself than the more commonly seen oriental hellebore, it requires richly amended soil, consistent watering and good drainage, light shade. NO chemical fertilizers please - it will burn this delicate creature! And plant where it will stay as, like peonies, it does not like to be moved. Once established, if you have enough flowers on the plants, snip a few to bring indoors. Floated in a crystal bowl with holly wreath around it, it makes an exquisite Christmas display!

CHERRYGAL HEIRLOOM GARDEN SEEDS & PLANTS offer hundreds of heirloom and vintage open-pollinated varieties! Most have histories dating back centuries and are tried and true producers. Some are rare, or threatened with extinction. When you grow a plant from heirloom seed and save that seed, you are participating in a practice that goes back for generations. Our grandparents and their grandparents grew these varieties. Often the seeds were prized possessions carried to the New World when they emigrated.

Ever notice how most seed catalogs require you to buy (and pay for) much more seed than you could ever possibly use in a season? If you have a budget for garden seeds, this limits your choices! Although seeds can be viable for longer than one growing season, it requires that they be stored at a consistent temperature and humidity. Few of us do this. CherryGal sizes its seed packets for the home gardener, because we know you may want to grow 5 different lettuces, or three different corns, and don’t want to have to take out a second mortgage to do so! CHERRYGAL SEEDS ARE A TREMENDOUS BARGAIN!

All seeds offered are FRESH stock, with high germination rates. Varieties are specially selected for home gardeners. If you want the flavor you remember from grandma's kitchen garden or the beauty of her cottage flowers, choose CHERRYGAL HEIRLOOM SEEDS.

ABOUT OPEN-POLLINATED SEEDS . . . All CherryGal Heirloom Seeds are heirlooms (dating at least 100 years) or vintage (mid-20th Century or older) OPEN-POLLINATED varieties. This means saved seed will be true to the parent. Don't be dazzled by the never-ending array of hybrid seeds promoted by gardening suppliers. First, seeds from that produce will not grow true to the parent -- you have to keep buying hybrid seed. Second, most hybrids are developed for market – not home -- growers with an emphasis on extended shelf life, storage and shipping qualities -- NOT flavor, texture and all those other elements that home growers seek.

All CHERRYGAL HEIRLOOM SEEDS come from reputable growers (most of them small farms) and wherever possible ORGANIC suppliers (so noted). By buying CHERRYGAL SEEDS you are supporting the growing worldwide movement of SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE and with a little practice you will be able to save even more money in the future by growing open-pollinated varieties and saving seed for next year. All my seeds are DOUBLE GERMINATION TESTED: First by my growers and then by me. Please Note: CherryGal Heirloom Seeds are guaranteed to be fresh stock, but are not guaranteed as to results (sorry - we wish we could, but there are too many variables in gardening) so please do not ask to return. However, we think you will be pleased and would like to hear about your gardening success!

SHIPPING: I endeavor to ship my seeds as quickly as possible - usually within 24 - 48 hours. If there is a need for more time, you will be advised at time of purchase and shipped as soon as possible. In the event an item becomes unavailable or temporarily out of stock I will offer you a chance to substitute another selection or refund you immediately. I package my seeds for shipping in a manner appropriate to the amount and type of seed - larger orders and larger seeds require more packaging. I also combine multiple orders of the same seed variety, where practical, in one envelope unless you request otherwise. This is an ecological measure, not a cost-saving one. Whether you choose first class mail or priority shipping, your seeds will ship using a delivery confirmation number which will be supplied to you.