Helleborus foetidus Bowless Form

Helleborus foetidus Bowles's form is a variety of stinking hellebore that is more compact and floriferous than the typical variety. In winter, this plant produces clusters of bell-shaped flowers in a chartreuse green colour, touched or edged with brown-red. It has highly ornamental, evergreen foliage that is deeply divided and strongly dentate. The stinking hellebore is a short-lived perennial plant but very tolerant, and it easily self-seeds in shaded areas of the garden, undoubtedly bringing a touch of refinement and whimsy.

Also known as bear's foot, bear paw, horse biter, or spring herb, depending on the region, Helleborus foetidus is a wild plant belonging to the Ranunculaceae family, native to Western and Central Europe. In the wild, this species can be found in upright form, reaching up to 1m (3ft) in height when flowering. It is found in uncultivated places and groves, under oak trees, in rocky and rather dry areas, in limestone or neutral soil, or conversely in acidic soil in sunny locations. Stinking hellebore grows in altitudes up to 1800m (5905ft). Its lifespan is around 3 to 4 years.

Bowles's form differs from the typical variety in its smaller size, not exceeding 50cm (20in) in height when flowering, and its increased floribundity. It starts off as an upright perennial at the beginning of flowering, but gradually becomes prostrate. Its biennial and robust stems, 40 to 50cm (16 to 20in) tall, are glabrous but densely leafy below the inflorescence. The flowering occurs from January to April, above the evergreen foliage. This hellebore bears inflorescences in cymes, composed of numerous small bell-shaped flowers with a diameter of 1 to 3cm (1in). These flowers are inclined to protect themselves from inclement weather. They are pale green-yellow, margined with red on the outside and inside of the corolla. They have numerous cream-coloured stamens, larger than the petals, inserted spirally as in all buttercups. The flowers are popular with dipterous insects, bees, and bumblebees. After flowering, the stinking hellebore produces dry fruits that release several seeds. The leaves and stems of this variety are initially medium green, then darken in winter. They are deeply divided into 7 to 10 very narrow and inclined segments, measuring 15 to 25cm (6 to 10in) in length, and showing a serrated border. They are horizontally arranged around the stem. The evergreen foliage is sometimes deciduous in summer in dry and hot climates but persists in cool climates. The species name, foetidus, refers to the unpleasant odour emitted by the foliage when crushed.

Stinking hellebore is a very hardy and undemanding plant, useful for brightening up shady areas, the base of large trees, or the north and east facades of the house. Use hellebores like elements of an ancient tapestry, mixing them with brightly coloured woodland plants. Bowles's form is a rare variety that can be appreciated even in summer in cool climates for its elegant foliage. In this regard, it can be planted at the base of Clethra or Japanese maples, which will provide beneficial shade in summer without suffocating it, along with Asarum europaeum, variegated periwinkles, or dwarf hostas. It can be planted in groups, like a bouquet, near the entrance of the house in a shaded location, or in a large pot to enjoy its unusual, bright, and early flowering up close.

This hellebore is a close relative of Helleborus niger. It can be toxic. Its seeds were used in the Middle Ages for their purgative properties, believed to treat madness.